Music of the Balkans & Middle East [EN]

Can you match the following instruments?

• Ney

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• Bouzouki

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• Darbuka

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• Gaida

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• Kaval

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Answer explanation

Bouzouki: a stringed instrument similar to a mandolin, commonly used in Greek music

Darbuka: a type of drum commonly used in Arabic music

Gaida: a type of bagpipe commonly used in Balkan music

Kaval: a type of flute commonly used in Balkan music

Ney: a type of flute commonly used in Turkish music

Do you know the name of the instrument that the musician in the middle plays?

• Mazhar

• Darbuka

• Daff

• Davul

Answer explanation

Correct! Do you know all the other instruments?

Let's see...

Darnuka: The darbuka is one of the most popular percussion in the Middle East. They produce distinct sounds when musicians strike them with their palms or fingers.

Mazhar: The Egyptian Mazhar is a very heavy frame drum with large cymbals. It is designed for heavy pounding in a loud and diverse rhythm section.

Davul: The biggest brother of the middle-eastern percussion family is Davul, also known as Tupan, a big double-headed drum played with sticks. It is not very common in Arabic music but highly popular in Turkish and Romani music.

Daff: Daff is the general name of frame drums in the Arabic world, while in Egypt, it is called Mazhar, and in Turkey and North Africa, it is called Bendir. All of these instruments have the same structure with a wooden frame and goat or fish skin stretched as the drum head but have slight nuances in terms of size and pitch.

Now it's time for some music! Can you recognise this instrument?

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Answer explanation

That was easy, wasn't it?

Gaida is a type of bagpipe commonly used in Balkan music.

As you definitely noticed, gaida has a distinctive sound, with a high-pitched drone created by a reed that is fitted into a chanter, and a deep, resonant tone produced by the air that is blown into the bag.

Fun fact: Different regions have their own unique styles of playing the gaida, and the instrument has evolved over time to suit different musical traditions.

Let's try this now... Can you tell this one?

(Tip: It's an instrument that can be found in Balkan, Middle East and Central Asian regions)

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Answer explanation

The kaval is found in Turkey and the Balkans. It is made of wood rather than reed cane and is played the same way as the ney.

The Iranian ney has a powerful breathy sound in the low octave; the middle Eastern ney produces a stronger upper register.

What is the name of this traditional Balkan instrument that is played with a bow and its strings are tuned in fifths?

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Answer explanation

That was hard, I know!

Did you know that Kemenche or Lyra is a name used for various types of stringed bowed musical instruments originating in the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly in Armenia, Greece, Iran, Turkey, and Azerbaijan, and regions adjacent to the Black Sea?

These instruments are folk instruments, generally having three strings and played held upright with their tail on the knee of the musician. The name Kemenche derives from the Persian Kamancheh, meaning merely a "small bow".

Now a hard one! What is the name of this traditional Balkan dance rhythm that features a fast tempo and a repeating pattern of three short beats followed by one long beat?

• Lesnoto Horo

• Sedi Donka

• Calusari

• Užičko Kolo

Answer explanation

Sedi Donka dance is a traditional Bulgarian folk dance that is often performed to the Sedi Donka rhythm.

The Sedi Donka rhythm is characterized by its 7/8 time signature and syncopated accents, which gives the dance a distinctive and energetic feel. The dance usually begins with a slow, steady tempo, and gradually builds in speed and intensity as the music progresses.

The dancers often hold hands and move in a circular pattern around the dance floor, with the steps and movements changing as the tempo and rhythm of the music shift.

Bonus: Check the link below for a modern approach to the Sedi Donka dance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnSclgo9apo

OK, let's relax a bit... How about this instrument? Can you tell the name?

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Answer explanation

Did you know: The tambura is a stringed instrument that is played as a folk instrument in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, North Macedonia, and Serbia. It has doubled steel strings and is played with a plectrum, in the same manner as a mandolin.

Match the following instruments.

• Tar

• 
• Lute

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• Sandur

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• Saz

• 
• Oud

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Which traditional Balkan dance is known for its upbeat tempo and is often performed at weddings and celebrations?

• Horo

• Syrtos

• Cocek

• Kolo

Answer explanation

Cocek dance is a traditional folk dance that is popular in the Balkans, particularly in the countries of Serbia, Bosnia, and Macedonia.

The dance is characterized by its fast-paced, energetic tempo, and is often accompanied by lively music played on instruments such as the accordion, clarinet, and percussion. The cocek dance features a mix of steps and movements, including kicks, hops, and spins, which are often performed with great speed and precision.

Bonus: Check this video for a Cocek-influenced song with a twist!

What is the name of the traditional Middle Eastern and Balkan percussion instrument that consists of a pair of small hand cymbals?

• Davul

• Zills

• Tambourine

• Riq

Answer explanation

Zills, or finger cymbals, are part of a family of musical instruments known as clappers. Clappers are musical instruments made of wood, bone, metal, and other substances that are played by being struck against each other. Clappers come in pairs and are often held in the hands, fastened together, or strapped to the performer's fingers. The clapper family also includes spoons, bones and castanets.

Bonus: Check this video to listen to the distinctive sound of zills.