MENAME Fall 2016 schedule

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Week 1: Sep 1

Lecture and exercise segment (6:30 to 7:30)

  • Course introduction: ethnomusicology, world music, Middle East and North Africa. Focus on Music of Syria.
  • Note: there is some homework due next week (via eClass); always look for the homework assignment on the day it is due.

Rehearsal segment: (7:30 to 9:30)

  • Masmudi and Malfuf
  • Ya Tira Tiri

http://bit.ly/yatiratiri (Sabah Fakhri)
http://bit.ly/yatiratiri2 (Rouwaida Attieh)
http://bit.ly/yatiratiri3 (Sabah Fakhri, starting with mawwal (vocal improvisation) and segueing into Ya Mal al-Sham)

  • Lamma Bada

Week 2: Sep 8

Homework (due today)

Remember homework is always due on the day it is listed, before class! You must submit reading reviews for each reading to me by email before class on Thursday! Remember: In this review, you should demonstrate that you’ve completed the assignment (by telling me what it’s about), and that you’ve thought about it (by telling me what you think of it). Use the eClass site to submit all assignments. (All assignments due on a particular day will be submitted together, since eClass provides a single link each Thursday.) For more details on assignments, see course outline above.

Read & review:

Browse: http://maqamworld.com, and Theory section of our website, especially for the maqam (Hijaz) and durub we introduced last week.

Lecture and exercise segment

  • Course outline and welcome!
  • Introduction to music of the Middle East, focus on Mashriq
  • Overview of tonal and rhythmic theory
  • Durub: Review of durub introduced last week (masmudi and malfuf); Introduction to maqsum, sa`idi, wahda, sama`i thaqil (note: you can find overviews of rhythms at http://bit.ly/mename under "theory")
  • Maqam: Review of Rast and Suznak; introduction to Hijaz Kar


  • Music theory and terminology:
    • Darb (lit. "strike"), plural durub: rhythmic concept (also known as iqa` or wazn or usul). We introduced 4 durub: wahda - maqsum - masmudi - malfuf. See my chart for definitions.
    • Dulab (literally "wheel"): a short, precomposed, introductory instrumental form. See forms at maqamworld.com
    • Maqam (lit. "station"), plural maqamat: tonal concept (something like "scale" but using a wider range of pitch material, and including melodic and ornamentation characteristics). There are dozens of different maqamat. See maqamworld.com
    • Maqam Rast
    • Taqsim: an instrumental improvisation in a maqam.
    • Mawwal: vocal improvisation in a maqam, with text (which is not necessarily a "mawwal" in the literary sense)
    • Layali: vocal improvisation in a maqam, using "nonsense" syllables, usually "ya `ayn, ya layl".
    • Muwashshah: classical strophic poetry originating in Andalusia; can make use of multiple rhymes and meters
    • Qasida: original form of Arabic poetry, single rhyme and meter


See http://maqamworld.com for more on maqam, darb, and forms

See the course's Theory section for more information about maqam, darb, and music theory generally.


(note: these terms will also come up in your readings)

Rehearsal

  • From last time:
    • Ya Tira Tiri
  • New:
    • Ya Shadi al-Alhan
    • Dulab Rast
    • Samai Rast
    • Murr al-Tijanni (listening only)

Week 3: Sep 15

Homework (due today)

Read and submit reviews for the following readings:

As before LISTEN as much as possible, using the 3rd stream technique (first listen, then listen and sing / clap, then just sing/clap - and repeat with an instrument if you play one). Apply this approach to the maqamat, the durub, and the songs and instrumental pieces. Use http://maqamworld.com for examples of maqamat and for some of the durub (and for the latter you have also your durub charts, which you can also fine online at bit.ly/mename under "theory")

For next time (Sep 15) please be able to:

  1. clap and say maqsum (dum tek iss tek dum iss tek iss); masmudi (dum dum tek iss dum iss tek iss); and sa`idi (dum tek iss dum dum iss tek iss). Optionally: experiment with variations.
  2. sing maqam Rast ascending and descending, following the melodies you can hear on maqamworld.com (http://maqamworld.com/maqamat/rast.html ) under “Hear this maqam”


Our maqamat thus far:

  • Rast
  • Suznak
  • Hijaz Kar

Our durub thus far:

  • Wahda
  • Masmudi
  • Maqsum
  • Sa`idi
  • Malfuf

Film segment (6:30 to 7:30)

Please arrive on time to watch this film: Umm Kulthum: A Voice Like Egypt

Rehearsal

  • Maqamat: Rast, Suznak, Hijaz Kar
  • Durub: Wahda, Masmudi, Maqsum, Sa`idi, Malfuf....Bamb, Ciftetelli


Review:

  • Dulab Rast
  • Samai Rast
  • Tira tiri
  • Ya Shadi al-Alhan
    • Lamma Bada

New:

  • Ya Mal al-Sham
  • Dulab Hijaz Kar
  • Samai Hijaz Kar
  • Murr al-Tijanni

Week 4: Sep 22

Homework (due today)


Just one or at most two paragraphs for each work is fine - but be sure you cover the main points!

Lecture segment (6:30 to 7:30)

Introduction to Maqam and Ajnas theory

Maqamat:

  • Rast
  • Suznak
  • Huzam
  • Hijaz Kar
  • Nahawand

Ajnas:

  • Rast
  • Hijaz
  • Nahwand

Durub:

  • Wahda
  • Masmudi
  • Maqsum
  • Sa`idi
  • Malfuf
  • Bamb
  • Ciftetelli

Rehearsal

Rast:

  • Ya Tira Tiri
  • Ya Mal al-Sham
  • Ya Shadi al-Alhan

Hijaz Kar and Nahawand:

  • Murr al-Tajanni
  • Lamma Bada
  • Ya Mariya

Week 5: Sep 29

Announcements:

  • FIrst quiz: Oct 13, 6:30 - 7:15. Identification of terms and identification of countries on a map.
  • Click here for review sheets. Note that the map comes straight from one of your readings.
  • Performance: Oct 14

Homework (due today)

Lecture and exercise segment

  • Durub: Wahda, Maqsum, Masmudi, Sa`idi, Bamb, Malfuf, Ciftetelli, Sama`i Thaqil, Masmudi Kabir
  • Ajnas: Hijaz (A), Hijaz (E), Rast (D), Ajam (F), Nahawand (D), Ajam (F); Rast (C), Hijaz (G), Sika (Ed)
  • Maqamat in bold (ajnas in normal font)
    • Hijaz Kar A (Suzidil) = Hijaz (A) + Hijaz (E) or Hijaz (A) + Nahawand (D) or Hijaz (A) + Rast (D)
    • Nahawand (D) = Nahawand (D) + Hijaz (A)
    • Ajam (F) = Ajam (F)+ Ajam (C)
    • Rast (C) = Rast (C) + Rast (G)
    • Suznak (C) = Rast (C) + Hijaz (G)


Rehearsal

  • Rast
    • Dulab Rast
    • Samai Rast (first khana and taslim)
    • Review Syrian wasla in Rast (Dulab, Ya Tira Tiri, Ya Mal al-Sham, Ya Shadi al-Alhan)
  • Hijaz Kar
    • Dulab Hijaz Kar
    • Samai Hijaz Kar
    • Murr al-Tajanni
    • Lamma Bada (Nahawand)
    • Ya Mariya
  • Nahawand
    • Ya Mahla al-Fusha

Week 6: Oct 6

Homework (due today)

Rehearsal

Don't forget: concert on Oct 14!

Week 7: Oct 13

Note:

  • Rehearsal from 6:30 to 9:30, reviewing all repertoire, after brief warmup (Rast, Hijaz, Nahawand, Ajam ajnas). Everyone please arrive on time!
  • Performance tomorrow evening! (please be at Convocation Hall by 5:30 pm for sound check. Dress: wear dark colors with a splash of color added if you like.]
  • The quiz (identifications) will be held next week. I will distribute a review sheet by email and link to this site also.


Homework (due today)

Rehearsal

WARM-UP:

Review Durub: Wahda, Maqsum, Masmudi, Sa`idi, Bamb, Malfuf, Ciftetelli, Sama`i Thaqil, Masmudi Kabir

Review tetrachords (ajnas):

  • Rast
  • Hijaz
  • Nahawand
  • Ajam

Be able to distinguish these rhythms and tetrachords for your quiz in two weeks.

REVIEW FOR CONCERT TOMORROW:

We'll run through the whole program.

Week 8: Oct 20: Quiz #1

NOTE: the first quiz will be held TODAY, from 6:30 - 7:15, comprising short answers drawn from readings, and identification of countries on a map. Credit students - please arrive on time! The second quiz will be held next week. I will distribute a review sheet a week in advance. In case you lost the review sheet here is a link to the same thing online.


Homework (due today)

None. Just prepare for the quiz.

Rehearsal

Week 9: Oct 27: Quiz #2

Review:

Please be ready to identify all the pieces we've performed so far, and say something (1-3 sentences) about them, including the following sorts of information (as available - not all information is available for every song or piece):

  • the title
  • the maqam and darb
  • the names of the composer and lyricist (if known)
  • the genre (type of music, e.g. muwashshah, dulab, qudud)
  • the source culture or country/region (e.g. Syrian, Iranian, Egyptian)

I will play a recording; you will provide the above information. You don't have to know anything about these songs that we haven't discussed in class; there isn't always a definite "right" answer; and you don't have to provide every last detail. I'm just looking to see what information you can provide.

I will play an excerpt from the recording and then you'll write 1-3 sentences about the piece. Here is the list of pieces to recognize.


You will also be asked to identify the following:

  • RHYTHMIC STRUCTURES (Durub): be able to identify the following 7 durub (I will play the rhythms on a drum): wahda - maqsum - masmudi - sa`idi - bamb - sama`i thaqil - ciftetetelli (Note that ordinary masmudi, as opposed to "masmudi kabir", is also called "masmudi saghir" or "baladi").
  • TONAL STRUCTURES (ajnas and maqamat): Here is a review website for ajnas and maqamat. You can also consult Maqamworld.
    • Ajnas: be able to differentiate four ajnas: Hijaz, Nahawand, Rast, `Ajam.
    • Maqamat: be able to differentiate two maqams: Hijaz and Hijaz Kar.


Please don't worry if you have trouble with ajnas and maqamat - just do your best (it's a relatively small part of the quiz). See theory section of our website for additional information about rhythmic and tonal structures.


Homework

None - just prepare for quiz

Rehearsal

Week 10: Nov 3

Homework (due today)

Muslim religious chant - adhan and Qur'anic recitations - reflect the various styles of music in the region. They also impact it, because many singers are trained through such recitations. We saw a clear instance in the case of Umm Kulthum, but such training is common to many singers.

  • Read and review each of the following (just two paragraphs on each).
  • Read, listen, analyze: what differences do you hear?
    • Read and listen and submit your comments on the differences you hear between the different styles of performing the Call to Prayer (adhan).
    • Read and listen and submit your comments on the differences you hear between the different styles of performing Qur'anic recitation.

Watch Koran by Heart, a beautiful documentary about a Qur'an competition. (Kristina Nelson served as consultant on this film.)

Lecture segment: Adhan and Qur'an

  • About Adhan and Qur'an
  • Relation to melody
    • Maqamat
    • "Melodies of the Arabs" (Hadith)

Adhan:

  • Islam's link to Ethiopia - the first hijra; and the freed slave Bilal, first mu'adhdhin - spiritual progenitor of Keita dynasty (Mali) and various sub-saharan subcultures of North Africa (e.g. Gnawa)
  • Origin of adhan (see 1:20:00)
  • Map of adhan and geocultural performance styles
    • Melody
    • Group
    • Local musical sound

Qur'an:

For those who are interested, here are some links on Arabic script and calligraphy:

Rehearsal

  • Maqamat: NEW: Bayati, Hijaz
  • Durub: NEW: Ayyub (Zar) and Zeffa

Week 11: Nov 10 - FALL BREAK - no class (but please continue reading the book)

Homework (due today)

Read and review:

Rehearsal

NO rehearsal today- fall break.

Week 12: Nov 17

Homework (due today)

Rehearsal: starts at 6:30 this week!!

We'll be reviewing our entire repertoire. Please practice hard this week! Last rehearsal before our big concert on Nov 24! Please arrive promptly a few minutes before 6:30 so we can begin on time!


Week 13: Nov 24 (MENAME concert this Saturday, Nov 26!)

  • NB: possible extra rehearsals this week (?)
  • Final concert: Nov 26 in Convocation Hall

Homework (due today)

Week 14: Dec 1: Final quiz

  • Final quiz, 6:30 - 7:30. See Review Sheet here. In addition everyone will share something from their self-assessment. Please be prepared.
  • Potluck and goodbye! 7:30 - 9:30, bottom of the main stairwell in FAB. Bring anything you like and would like to share!

Week 16: Dec 15 (for credit graduate students only)

  • Final paper due.
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