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2.2 The Levant - Tarab
Review
• What three regions make up the Arab World?
• The Levant – West Asia
• The Arabian Peninsula – West Asia
• North Africa - Africa
• Two melodic instrument clans
• Nahr - Chordophones
• Sahb - Aerophones
• Taqsim
• Instrumental improvisation
Tarab – A Culture
• A musically induced state of ecstasy or enchantment
• Necessary interaction between musicians and audience
• Audience acknowledgment
• Listeners are expected to comment, contribute and encourage
• Inspired performance
Tarab Artists
Five Phases of Becoming a Tarab Artist
1. Appearance of talent
2. Musical obsession and struggle
3. Family and social recognition of talent
4. Training of some sort
5. Pursuing a career
Talent
• People are born with talent
• Mawhibah – “gift” or “endowment”
• Hereditary
• Acquired from a gifted family member or relative
Obsession and Struggle
• The love of music
• Struggle with family
• Cultural barriers
• Religion
• Gender
• Muhammed Abdul Wahab
• Often skipped school with other children to sing for them
• Kept using the excuse that his aunt died
• One of the most notable performers and composers of Egyptian music
Discovery and Recognition
• A young talented musician is recognized by a well-known tarab
artist
• Talent is important but it must be polished and matured
The Learning Process
• Traditionally, tarab is linked to religious and secular contexts
• Religious
• Singing of Sufi and Christian liturgies
• Secular
• Apprenticeship - Takht ensemble
• More common in the 19th century
• Conservatories – Formal education
• Became the primary source of learning in the early 20th century
Mutarib (m)/Mutaribah (f)
• A singer of tarab
• This is an earned title.
• The one that induces a state of enchantment or ecstasy to the
audience
• Expectations of the Mutarib/Mutaribah
• Showmanship
• Well dressed
• Aware of the audience’s wants and needs
Sabah Fakhri (1933-2021)
The Tarab Audience
Adab
• “Expectation” or “etiquette”
• Audience members are expected to help the singer perform
• Audience acknowledgment
• Listeners are expected to comment, contribute and encourage the
mutarib/mutaribah
• Genuine encouragement – feeling/energy toward the performance
The Music
Lyrics
• Relate to love, work, and regular life
• Political
• Nationalism
• Storytelling/Imagery – painting a picture
• Poetry – Improvised or written
• Timeless music
Ya Rayis
Oh, captain,you have a crew
Oh, captain,you have a crew
Oh, captain,suntanned lebanese
Oh, captain,you have a crew
Oh, captain,suntanned lebanese
Oh, captain,the sea is calm
Oh captain,take me up to my love
Oh, captain,you have a crew
Oh, captain,suntanned lebanese
Oh, captain,you have a crew
Oh, captain,suntanned lebanese
Oh, captain,the sea is calm
Oh captain,take me up to my love
I've written on our loved ground
Missing our dear ones melted me
I've written on our loved ground
Missing our dear ones melted me
Al Nadda Nadda
Oh Nada Nada
Oh Nada Nada Nada
And the flowers blossomed on her cheeks
If they dont give you to me .. I shall bring down the high mountains
Nada was by the water spring.. and I asked where have you been
She winked at me with those eyes.. wanting to speak but wouldn't
Nada went down to the orchard.. upon reaching, spring blossomed
She keeps me up all night perplexed.. counting the night stars
Yesterday i met the beautiful one.. and i can't explain how I felt
When she invited me to her home.. i couldnt contain my heart
Oh bird that flies continuously.. making round trips around the sun
Would you greet the beautiful one.. if u were to pass her by
-The mawal (ataba)-
Oh vineyards that were delicious and sweet
Days of love so beautiful and sweet
I wonder who will find mercy on your state and mine
So we return as we were together
Oh my woes my woes.
Mawal
• Usually improvised – similar to taqsim but with voice
• Metered or nonmetered
• Solo singer or accompanied by an instrument(s)
• Can be placed at the beginning or middle of a song or can be its
own stand-alone song
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xySCEnVMvuw
• Aataba w Mijana – A type of mawal
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vj4DUCUPxU
Ensembles
• Traditionally a large orchestra
• Usually performed in concert halls, theaters, etc.
• A blend of traditional instruments and Arabized instruments
• Traditional: Oud, Qanun, Darbaki
• Arabized Instruments: Violins, Accordion, Upright Bass
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_HoGYhk4x8
• Modern, smaller ensemble
• Smaller venues – Night Clubs
• Uses electronic instruments
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Egx5z4xI5o
Recording Technology
• Important in preserving music
• Takes away from the authentic Tarab experience
• Performer and listener interaction
QUESTIONS?
Have a great weekend!!
