Instrument of the Week
We worked on the Kanoon and talked about takeem (also spelled taqasim, taqsim, takseem, taxim, etc, etc). There is a structure to it, but that's pretty technical and for now you should just be aware that it is the musician following their feeling and displaying artistry. One interesting thing, it means "division" in Arabic, and something along the lines of "bridge/connection" in Turkish. It is often used to create a smooth transition from one song to another, especially if there is a maqam (mode/scale/key) change from one song to the next.
Here's an article about the middle Eastern music in general, which I'm wishing I'd sent earlier in the semester ^_^
On the topic of call and response, here's one of the songs we danced to, you can see the two types of bands (a "hassaballa" brass band, and a traditional "tet ensemble" being conducted by the lady with the flower) go back and forth
We worked on the Kanoon and talked about takeem (also spelled taqasim, taqsim, takseem, taxim, etc, etc). There is a structure to it, but that's pretty technical and for now you should just be aware that it is the musician following their feeling and displaying artistry. One interesting thing, it means "division" in Arabic, and something along the lines of "bridge/connection" in Turkish. It is often used to create a smooth transition from one song to another, especially if there is a maqam (mode/scale/key) change from one song to the next.
Here's an article about the middle Eastern music in general, which I'm wishing I'd sent earlier in the semester ^_^
On the topic of call and response, here's one of the songs we danced to, you can see the two types of bands (a "hassaballa" brass band, and a traditional "tet ensemble" being conducted by the lady with the flower) go back and forth
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The prop to introduce this week is the shamadan. I enjoy dancing with this one, because of its connection to the awalim and Egyptian folklore (plus i get to show off, lol) This article will serve for now to give a basic background on it, I have to try and find another article that covers the zeffat al 'arousa better.
| Here's a dancer in a movie from the 60s about a dancer credited with starting the it, of course they used 1960s costumes instead of the 1860s | Niisa performing with one, she is a great researcher and author of "Raqs Sharki Revolution" | and Shinning doing a historical style with two other dancers |
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| Here it is done in the context of a wedding: | as presented by an Egyptian folklore company (folklore is different from folk dance. More on that later.) | Here's Nour giving it an authentic Awalim feeling during a show in NYC: |
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Modern dancers perform with the shamadan, and they can get away with floorwork, because while floorwork has been illegal in Egypt for a long time, it is allowed during shamadan because of the folklore and cultural significance of the performance
Must Know Song of the Week
Bahlam Beek. is an Abdel Halim Hafez classic. My playlist on versions of it is a bit shorter, but if you have any versions you like lmk and I'll add them! ^_^
And, the translation.
Bahlam Beek. is an Abdel Halim Hafez classic. My playlist on versions of it is a bit shorter, but if you have any versions you like lmk and I'll add them! ^_^
And, the translation.
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