what is tarab music

Where is tarab music from?

AleppoThis millennia-old musical genre is popular across the Arabic-speaking world, and while many of the best-known tarab musicians are from Egypt or Lebanon, nowhere is it more revered than in the hearts and minds of Syrians – especially in Aleppo, the cradle of the genre.

What is the meaning tarab?

enchantmentTarab is one of those words. Loosely translated to “enchantment,” tarab is an Arabic word describing a deep, stirring musical performance that launches the audience into a trance-like state of ecstasy. The creation of tarab by an artist or musical piece is difficult to pinpoint.

What is Arabic style music called?

The prototypical Arabic music ensemble in Egypt and Syria is known as the takht, and includes, (or included at different time periods) instruments such as the 'oud, qānūn, rabab, ney, violin (introduced in the 1840s or 50s), riq and dumbek.

What is Middle East music called?

Arabic musicArabic music or Arab music (Arabic: الموسيقى العربية, romanized: al-mūsīqā al-ʿArabīyyah) is the music of the Arab world with all its diverse music styles and genres.

Where did taarab originate?

According to local legend, taarab was popularized by Sultan Seyyid Barghash bin Said (1870-1888). He enjoyed luxury and the pleasures of life. It was this ruler who initiated taarab in Zanzibar and later it spread all over the African Great Lakes region.

Is Umm Kulthum Arabic?

Umm Kulthūm, also spelled Oum Kulthoum or Om Kalsoum, (born May 4, 1904?, Tummāy al-Zahāyrah, Egypt—died February 3, 1975, Cairo), Egyptian singer who mesmerized Arab audiences from the Persian Gulf to Morocco for half a century. She was one of the most famous Arab singers and public personalities of the 20th century.

What are the 2 types of music used in Islamic?

Types of Muslim devotional recitation and musicA hamd—a song in praise of Allah.A na`at—a song in praise of Muhammad.Manqabats—songs in praise of the illustrious teachers of the Sufi brotherhood to which the musicians belong.More items...

Why is Arabic music so different?

Unlike much western music, Arabic music includes quarter tones. These small changes, in what is to the Westerner's ear a single note, is often uncommon to our ear and may even seem out of tune. The rhythmic structures are generally very complex and carry a tension uncommon to western music culture.

Is music haram in Islam?

Imam al-Ghazzali, reported several hadith and came to the conclusion that music in and of itself is permitted, saying: "All these Ahadith are reported by al-Bukhari and singing and playing are not haram." He also references a narration from Khidr, wherein a favorable opinion of music is expressed.

Is Jazz Middle Eastern?

Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime.

What is unique about Middle Eastern music?

Some unique features of traditional Middle Eastern music are the use of quarter tones and the lack of chords, giving the music a very distinctive feel. In addition to unique sounds, some traditional Middle Eastern songs can be up to three hours long.

What is Dubai music called?

Khalil and Bedouin Folk Music Some of the traditional music of Dubai includes Khalil music and Bedouin folk music. Khalil music involves playing of the classical tabla or the drum. In Bedouin folk music, the songs are based on poetry.

What is the meaning of Buro Buro?

buro (plural buros) an office quotations ▼ a desk, usually with a cover and compartments for storing papers etc. located above the level of the writing surface rather than underneath.

What is a Chauk called in English?

: marketplace, bazaar. also : a main street.

What do we say Pahana in English?

/pahananā/ on adverb. When you put a piece of clothing on, you place it over a part of your body in order to wear it. If you have it on, you are wearing it.

What is the meaning of Qatar in English?

Qatar in British English or Katar (kæˈtɑː ) a state in E Arabia, occupying a peninsula in the Persian Gulf: under Persian rule until the 19th century; became a British protectorate in 1916; declared independence in 1971; exports petroleum and natural gas. Official language: Arabic.

What is modern taarab music?

The main focus of Modern Taarab is dance and entertainment. This music is typically composed and performed on keyboards, which reduces the size of bands and allows musicians to be moremobile and flexible. Band members usually dress far less formally than their predecessors. Some critics dismiss Modern Taarabas an inferior reproduction of the original form. The evolution from original Taarab music to Modern Taarab was mainly due to the commercialization of the genre, the influence of the mainstream mediaand musicians and producers’ adoption to modern technology. Modern Taarab also draws on international influences. There is even a Modern Taarab version of American R&B singers Monica and Brandy’s hit ‘The Boy is Mine’.Another musician, Yusuf Mohammed (aka Tenge) translates the soundtracks of Indian films into Kiswahili and reproduces the melody on an electric keyboard. Another popular Modern Taarab group is Maulidi Musical Party from Kisauni, headed by Maulidi Juma.

What is the difference between Kidumbak and Taarab?

Kidumbak is a less refined and more upbeat genre than Ta arab. Musically it falls in between Taarab and the traditional Zanzibar music known as Ngoma. Just like Taarab, it is performed during celebrations. Contemporary Kidumbak is often referred to us Kitaarab. Kidumbak is typically played in accompaniment with two small clay drums,a violin played in a frantic fiddle style, a sanduku or tea chest for the bass, and the cherewa, a kind of shaker made from coconut shells filled with seeds or mkwasa, short wooden sticks, played like claves. As opposed to Taarab, Kidumbak is more rhythmic and its lyrics more spontaneous than poetic. The songs often criticize social behavior. The singer should be able to string together various Ngoma songs into a medley accompanying the tune. The dancing and chorus is provided by the wedding guests. This music focuses less on Arabic instruments and more on local ones. Many musicians in Zanzibar, such as Makame Faki, for example, perform in both Kidumbak and Taarab bands.

What are the instruments used in Taarab music?

This is a string instrument played in the Middle East, Central Asia and South-eastern Europe. It is made of a narrow trapezoidal soundboard. Nylon or PVC strings are stretched over a single bridge poised on fish skins on one end, attached to tuning pegs on the other end. Theinstrument is placed in the lap and played by plucking the strings with twopicks carved out of tortoise shells. Fingers can also be used to play it. Other popular instruments in Taarab include the Middle Eastern oud and dumbek (drum), Indian tabla, Western electric keyboards and Japanese taishakoto (ban jo).Its rhythms are a mixture of local chakacha grooves, Indian film music, Cuban and Congolese Rumba and other East African influences.Song lyrics - Swahili poetry -are considered a literary tradition in their own right.

Why did Taarab invade the Seychelles?

Taarab penetrated all these areas due to the presence of Arab traders. It even went beyond – inland to Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda. It was well received because it went hand in hand with the Muslim culture which similarly spread to these areas. Later,in 1964, in a political bid to remove the Arab influence in the region, all Taarab singers switched to Swahili, which became the lingua franca of the island, and clubs shed their Arab names for Swahili ones.

Why is Taarab so popular in Zanzibar?

This is because the first musicians of this genre were trained by Sultan Barghash to perform only in the palace. Groups like the Culture Musical Club started as part of the youth group of the Afro Shirazi party during the revolutionary struggle.

Where did Siti live?

Her music sold fast, withcompany executives hardly believing that over 72 000 recordshad sold in 1931 alone. Siti’s name continued to grow far and wide. She became both a tourist and cultural attraction as people flocked to Zanzibar just to see her. Columbia even established a branch in Zanzibar to enhance her music and tap into other local talent inspired by her sound.While recording in Bombay, Sitimet Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum. This meeting further developed the Taarab sound because she introduced an Indian dance style into it called natiki, derived from the Hindi natak. It is through her recordings and performances with musicians and poets from Mombasa and Lamu that Taarab became widely accessible throughout the region.Later, further Egyptian influence was incorporated into the genre, with many Taarab orchestras mimicking their Egyptian counterparts byincluding full string sections of violin, cello and bass, as well as the accordion, oud, qanun, keyboard and ney flute.

What is the sound of Taarab?

The distinctive melodious sound that announces to a visitor that they have arrived at the East African coast, Taarab music helps give the region’s coastal towns their distinct identity and has been evolving ever since the first seafaring traders and explorers landed on these shores.

What is taarab music?

Taarab music is a fusion of pre-Islamic Swahili tunes sung in rhythmic poetic style, spiced with Arab-style melodies. It is an extremely lively art form, and immensely popular especially with women, drawing all the time from old and new sources.

What was the name of the group that brought the African music genre to the world?

The 1960s saw a group called the Black Star Musical Club from Tanga modernize the genre, and brought it to audiences far afield, especially Burundi and Kenya. More recently, modern taarab bands like East African Melody have emerged, as have related backbiting songs for women, called mipasho .

Where is the Taraab culture?

Taarab forms a major part of the social life of the Swahili people along the coastal areas, especially in Zanzibar, Tanga and even further in Mombasa and Malindi along the Kenya coast. Wherever the Swahili speaking people travelled, Taraab culture moved with them.

What does the word "taarab" mean?

The word taarab is a loanword from Arabic. The Arabic word طرب means "having joy with music".

What is coastal taarab?

Subgenres. Coastal taarab. Taarab is a music genre popular in Tanzania and Kenya. It is influenced by the musical traditions of the African Great Lakes, North Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. Taarab rose to prominence in 1928 with the advent of the genre's first star, Siti binti Saad . According to local legend, taarab was ...

Is Taarab music explicit?

Today, taarab songs are explicit – sometimes even graphic – in sexual con notation, and much of the music of groups like Melody and Muungano is composed and played on keyboards, increasing portability for different venues.

Where did the Sultan of Egypt import the Taarab?

The sultan imported a taarab ensemble from Egypt to play in his Beit el-Ajab palace. He subsequently decided to send Mohamed Ibrahim from Zanzibar to Egypt to learn music and to play the Kanun. Upon his return, he formed the Zanzibar Taarab Orchestra.

Learn about this topic in these articles

The term ṭarab, which designates a whole scale of emotions, characterizes the musical conception of the time and even came to mean music itself.

development of Islamic music

The term ṭarab, which designates a whole scale of emotions, characterizes the musical conception of the time and even came to mean music itself.

Overview

Etymology

History of Taarab music

See also

Further reading

External links