Music of the Middle East

This is the generic term for mode, or system of composing melody in Arabic classical music. Used throughout the Middle East. Known as dastgah in Persian

• Maqam

• Iq'a

• Monophony

• Radif

One melody line is played simultaneously by all performers

• Maqam

• Monophony

• Iq'a

• Radif

Two or more performers play the same melody, but with small differences in timing or ornamentation

• Maqam

• Monophony

• Heterophony

• Radif

In Persian classical music, the body of music, consisting of 250-300 short pieces, memorized by students and then used as the basis or point of departure for improvisation. Ideally learned in three stages: simple, intermediate, complete

• Maqam

• Monophony

• Heterophony

• Radif

In Persian classical music, the subdivision of a maqam or dastgah and smallest part of the radif

• Gusheh

• Tahkt

• Rai

• Dervishes

An ensemble of musicians, often including violin, santour, ney and two drums, used to accompany singing and dancing in Arabic popular music

• Gusheh

• Tahkt

• Rai

• Dervishes

A popular music developed in Algeria and Morocco that combines traditional singing styles and Arabic modes with Western style synthesized accompaniment

• Gusheh

• Tahkt

• Rai

• Dervishes

In Turkish popular music, a traditional Middle Eastern sound symbolizing the Turkish people’s association with Islam and to older cultural traditions

• Arabesk

• Reng

• Rai

• Takht

Fast, composed instrumental dance-like piece. Loosely based on the radif

• Arabesk

• Reng

• Rai

• Takht

The most common Middle Eastern instrument is the oud, a lute with a large body and a short neck with no frets, plucked with a pick made of a feather quill. It is an ancestor of the European lute of the Renaissance

• Oud

• Tar

• Setar

• Nay