| |
|
About
MEME
Support
The
Director
Rehearsals
Past
Concerts
Next
Concert
Members
Guest Artists
Volunteers
Photo
Album
Instruments
Department Home
University
Home
Downloads
Resources
Repertoire
Contact
Us
MEME In The News
Home |
|
|
'Ud
Also spelled oud, it has a deep, pear-shaped body; a fingerboard; and
a relatively short neck and somewhat less acutely bent-back peg box. Its
strings are plucked with a plectrum and are fastened to a tension bridge
on the instrument's belly. The instrument musically and technically evolved
during the Islamic period in Spain (711-1492) and gained its current characteristic
appearance. Modern 'uds are fretless and are not completely standardized
in size or number of strings; five courses of string-pairs are common,
six and seven pairs are also found.
Nay
Nay is an urban instrument and the only wind instrument used in Arab classical
music. It appears alongside the '?d (lute), the qanun, the daff and the
darbukkah. Its an open tube that has six finger-holes in front and
one thumb-hole in the back. The edge of the tube at the top is lightly
bevelled. Nay varies in length and each one is designated by the name
of its fundamental note (given by opening the first hole): nay Mahur (C),
nay Dukah (D), nay Buselik (E), nay Chargah (F), nay Nawa (G), nay Husayni
(A), nay 'Ajam (B ), nay Kardan (c), and so on.
Riqq
Riqq is a small, circular frame drum with jingles. It is dominantly used
in North Africa, Iraq, the Levant and Sudan. It is between 20 and 25 cm
in diameter and is played in takht ensembles of Egypt, Syria or Iraq where
it goes beyond the simple rhythmic requirements of the other percussion
instruments in terms of ornamentation and color.
Darbukka
Darbukka is a single-headed goblet drum. It is made from pottery, wood
or metal; the bottom is open and the skin head is directly attached by
nails, glue or binding. It is found in a range of sizes, particularly
in North Africa, where several may be played together in ensembles.The
origin of the term darabukka is somewhat obscure but probably lies in
the Arabic word darba (to strike), or durub (rhythmic
cycles), darbukka could mean, therefore, your strike,
or your rhythm.
Buzuq
Buzuq, (long-necked lute), is found in both folk and urban contexts throughout
the Levant and especially played by Gypsies. It comes usually with two
or three double courses and a variable number of movable frets. Its metal
strings produce a bright sound and are well suited for drone effects.
In recent years, several Palestinian groups integrated the instrument
in the classical takht as part of a growing interest in exploring its
possibilities. See the National Conservatory of Music in Palestine.
Qanun
Qanun is one of the classical instruments of the Arab world, known in
both oral and written traditions. It is the plucked box zither or psaltery
of the Middle East. On the modern Arab q?n?n, there are two to five levers
for every string (in triples). Intervals can be minutely adjusted by rotating
the levers, which control the tension of the strings; this permits a full
range of keys. Arab performers play in octaves or double octaves. The
right hand is notated in the treble clef and the left in the bass.
Bendir
Also called mazhar or duff, tar is a circular frame drum, found throughout
the Arab world. Successive migrations have brought the instrument to the
borders of the Indian Ocean and to parts of the African continent and
to Malaysia.It varies in diameter from 12 cm to 70 cm. Tarat (plural),
are usually covered in goat or calf skin, but other industrial materials
have been in usage in recent years. A tar and can be played alone, in
pairs, in larger groups or in ensembles with other instruments.
Baglama
Turkish long-necked lute of the Tanbur family. The pear-shaped bowl resonator
is carved or carvel-built. The soundtable is of wood, usually coniferous.
The neck has a variable number of movable frets. Traditionally these were
made of sheepgut or copper wire but nylon line is now used. The instrument,
dating from the 17th century, has movabile frets that allow the setting
of scales to include microtones. There are three double courses of metal
strings tuned with wooden pegs. The baglama is generally played with plectrum,
though formerly the fingertips are widely used. It is still played in
the dervish ceremonies of some sects, including the Alevi. It is also
the prime melody instrument of entertainment and dance music in both town
and country.
Violin
The European violin had replaced the spiked fiddle by early 20th century.
The violin, or Kaman as it's called in the Arab world, is tuned G, D,
G, D. In Arab ensembles, violins increased in number throughout the first
half of the 20th century and played a role similar to their function in
Western orchestras.
Viola
The viola was added to ensembles in the first half of the 20th century.
It also grew in number so it would balance out the overall growth of the
strings section. One of its most important charateristics are in its register
which resembles the 'ud.
Violincello
The violincello was added to ensembles in the first half of the 20th century.
It also grew in number so it would balance out the overall growth of the
strings section.
Double Bass
The double bass was also added to ensembles in the first half of the 20th
century, however this time plucked rather than bowed. It has become an
essntial part of ensemble's rhythm section by highlighting certain notes
that fall on strong beats in a particular rhythmic cycle and often played
the melody all the way through.
Accordion
During the second half of the 20th century, the accordion was retuned
to accomodate the maqam structure of Arab music, which requires having
quarter tones in some scales. It became popular in night clubs, musicals
and in popular music. Arab accordion players invested in exploring the
melodic possibilites of the instrument rather thatn its capability to
play Western chords and harmonies.
Santur
The santour, a native Persian instrument, is often defined as the box
zither of the Middle East. In Iran the santour is an important instrument
in the traditional orchestra. The santour consists of a trapeziform case
made of walnut wood, approximately 90 cm wide at the broad end, 35 cm
wide at the narrow end and 6 cm deep. The sides form an angle of 45 degrees
to the wider end. The strings are fixed to hitch-pins along the left-hand
side and wound around metal wrest-pins on the right by means of which
they are tuned with a tuning key. Each quadruple set of strings rest on
a movable bridge of hardwood (kharak). The right-hand rank corresponds
to the bass strings and that on the left to the treble strings. In the
center of the santour the low-pitched strings on the right cross the high-pitched
strings on the left. The santour has a range of three and a half octaves.
It is played by striking the strings with two hammers or mallets called
mezrab which are held in three fingers of each hand.
Turkish
Clarinet
The Turkish clarinet is a metal Albert system clarinet pitched in G. Constructed
in two sections, plus a barrel/tuning slide that holds the mouthpiece.
Comes with a BON ebonite mouthpiece. Also includes a padded gig bag.
Bouzouki
Bouzouki is a Greek Musical Instrument. It comes in 2 forms: 8 stringed
mainly and 6 six string. It became famous through music from Zorba the
Greek and Never on a Sunday. By the early 20's, the influence of Italian
mandolin making had altered the bouzouki into the basic form it is today,
with a staved bowl back, machine gear tuners, oval or round soundhole.
The first great use of the bouzouki was in the rebetiko music between
WWI and WWII.
Tar
The tar is a long-necked, waisted lute found in Azerbaijan, Iran, Georgia,
and other areas near the Caucasus region. The word tar itself means "string"
in Persian. This is claimed to be the root of the names of the Persian
setar and the guitar as well as less widespread instruments such as the
dutar and the Indian sitar. The exact place of origin of the tar cannot
be confirmed. However, the tar was invented in the territories of, or
influenced by, the Persian Empire: Persia (Iran), Afghanistan, and parts
of the former Soviet republics, such as Azerbaijan and Georgia. Wikipedia.
|
|