The complexities, overlapping rhythms and intricate composition of Middle Eastern music make it sound incredibly exotic to the Western ear. The basic structures described below apply mostly to older, folkloric music as more recent Middle Eastern works may incorporate Western influence.
Western music is based on a SCALE and Middle Eastern music is structured on a MAQAM which is something a little more than a scale but less than a tune.
In Western music, each of the 12 possible notes are a half-step (semi-tone) apart and only 7 of them are normally used a the basis for any given song. This is called a scale. There are also specific rules regarding which 7 notes can be used in a certain scale. Most Middle Eastern music has quarter notes (pitches that are half way between adjacent keys on a piano) and therefore a maqam has twice as many notes as a Western scale.
Extensive use is made of CHORDS in Western music whereas traditional Middle Eastern music does not use chords. Instead, when multiple instruments play, one will carry the primary melody and others will layer melody scraps or rhythms over it. Different instruments can take turns at carrying the melody, rather like an orchestral or jazz ensemble.
Middle music has more complex rhythms with unusual time signatures than Western music. In addition to both types of music having rhythms of even tempo eg. 2/4 or 4/4 rhythm, Middle Eastern music may also have a time signature such as 9/8, for example which is common in Turkish music.
RHYTHM is a musical sound characterized by regularly occurring accented beats and TEMPO is the speed at which a rhythm is played. Middle Eastern music has more complex rhythms with unusual time signatures than Western music. In addition to both types of music having rhythms of even tempo eg. 2/4 or 4/4 rhythm, Middle Eastern music may also have a time signature such as 9/8, for example which is common in Turkish music.
There are basically 2 drum sounds in Middle Eastern Rhythms being the DOM (which is the base beat) & the TAK (which is the treble).
Stringed Instruments
The Oud (Ud) Was the forerunner to the lute that was known in Medieval Europe. It is pronounced "'ood" where the sound is like the "oo" in "moon". It has 11 strings and no frets. The melody is produced through plucking the strings.The Oud was introduced by the Persians to Arabia in the Middle Ages.
The Kanoun Somehow resembles an autoharp. It is pronounced "kuh NOON". This instrument is common in Turkey and Arabic countries. It's wooden frame is designed to lie flat on a surface such as a table or the performer's lap, and the strings across it are plucked to produce the melody.
Saz Pronounced "sahz", is a gourd-shaped Turkish stringed instrument, resembling a lute only with a smaller base. It has frets whose positions can be adjusted, enabling the musician to get varying quarter tones. The saz was the ancestor of the Greek bouzouki.
Percussion Instruments
Dumbek Traditionally, were made of ceramics, with the head made of either goatskin or fish skin. In modern times many Dumbeks have synthetic heads, and the drum body may be made of metal
Def A Middle Eastern framed drum which looks like a large tambourine. In a band large enough to have more than one percussionist, one musician may play the primary rhythm on the dumbek, while another plays a background rhythm on the Def.
Riqq Is the Arabic tambourine. It is pronounced "reek". The Riqq can be used for either lead percussion (instead of the Dumbek) or background rhythm.
Zagat or Zills These finger cymbals are called Sagat in Egypt, meaning "small metal trays" or Zills in Turkish.
Wind Instruments
Mizmar A member of the oboe family of musical instruments. It is pronounced "MIZZ mar". It produces a loud, blaring sound which is ideal for occasions where an ethnic style of music and dance would be appropriate.
Zurna A type of horn used in Turkish folk music which like the Mizmar, is a member of the oboe family of musical instruments. It is pronounced "ZERN uh". It produces a loud tone that is particularly well-suited to ethnic style music and dance.
Ney A traditional instrument used in Turkish and Arabic folk music that resembles a flute both in appearance and sound. It is pronounced "nay".
