Middle Eastern music

Middle Eastern music is a form of art created in the region named Middle East. Rhythm is key in the Middle East, think about Quranic texts, prayercalls, and everyday conversations. Its characteristics are the use of quarter tones and the lack of chords. Middle Eastern music uses a lot of different instruments. A characterizing instrument is the qanun, a zither instrument. Other instruments are the oud, and the saz, both string instruments, similar to a guitar. 

## Musical terms 
These musical terms will come often in this page. A short guide with definitions of these terms could be useful. 

**Scale** = a collection or group of musical notes that are organized in a specific order. It gives music its characteristic sound in a particular culture.

**Mode** = a collection of notes that are related to a central note, and together they create a specific type or style of music. They determine the rules and conditions for playins this music.

**Beat** = The basic unit of time in music. A constant, regular pulse that repeats throughout a piece.

**Musical tone** = A steady periodic sound.

**Pitch** = The position of a sound in the full range of sounds. How high or low a sound is.

**Chords** = combination of three or more notes, with a harmonic pitch.

**Instrument** = Anything that is used to produce a musical sound.

**Genre** = Category that groups music together based on shared traditions and conventions.

## History 
The main religion in the Middle East is Islam. There is very little ceremonial music as music is seen as problematic in Islam. Rhythms are used for to recite the Qu'ran but not music itself. Rhythmic modes are used in Islamic music, these modes are called *īqāʿāt in Arabic.* Folk music and art music are similar and common in the Middle East. The classical music of Turkey is based on a scale. This scale has seven notes and a specific pattern of breaks between each note. This system of notes and breaks is called *makam* in Turkish, which is essential for Turkish classical music. There are different *makamlar* (plural of *makam*) and they each have their own set of rules. The scale covers a wide range of musical pitches, because of the wide range of high and low notes. This wide range of high and low notes is referred to as "two and a half octaves" in the music world. 

Reading about Turkish Classical music is helpful, but hearing it can be too. Clicking on the name of the video will give a chance to listern to Turkish Classical music. The video is called "Yaşar Kurt - Yaz Günleri".

### Pop 
Turkish pop music was born in the 1950's. It started with the making of covers of popular styles from other countries. "Hafif-batı" means "light western" and refers to these imported songs. Later, Turkish artists began writing their own songs and develop their own style.https://www.last.fm/tag/turkish+pop/wiki

Turkish pop music has been influenced by the West, yet it continues to promote national values. Turkish ordinary music is said to be multicultural as it mixes Western cultures with Eastern cultures. Turkish pop songs promote modern sounds as well as traditional sounds. Names that are big in this genre are: *Tarkan, Hadise, Aleyna Tilki* and *Mustafa Sandal*.

Reading about Turkish Pop music is helpful, but hearing it can be too. Clicking on the name of the video will give a chance to listen to Turkish pop music. The video is called "Mustafa Sandal - Araba".

### Rock 
Turkish Rock is also known as "Anatolian Rock". This is a genre under Turkish music.  This genre is a mix of Turkish folk music and Western rock. Atatürk, founding father of Turkey, wanted to make Turkey more like the West (more European and American). Thus, music also became more like that of the West, but still with some Ottoman elements.  It combines Turkish and Western elements in language, instruments, rhythm, melody, and harmony.  Seen as Western elements, instruments like the electric guitar, bass guitar and drums are used. Names that are big in this genre are: *Barış Manço, Erkin Koray* and *Selda Bağcan.*

Reading about Turkish Rock music is helpful, but hearing it can be too. Clicking on the name of the video will give a chance to listen to Turkish Rock music. The video is from one of the artists mentioned above, *Barış Manço.* The video is called "Barış Manço - Dönence (1982-TRT)".

## References