MENAME Winter 2018 schedule

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Note: this schedule will be filled in week by week. Note that all assignments are to be submitted via eClass. Repertoire is listed (with links to listen and read) via http://bit.ly/mename

Note also that all repertoire is available online in this Google Drive folder. Theory resources on maqamat and durub are available via the main course webpage http://bit.ly/mename

Short link to this page: https://bit.ly/mename18Wa

Week 1: Jan 11

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

  • Course introduction: ethnomusicology, world music, Middle East and North Africa. Focus on Music of North Africa, especially Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco.
  • Syllabus review, course requirements
  • Warm-up exercises from 7 pm to 7:30 pm
  • Rehearsal from 7:30 to 9:30
  • Note: there is some homework due next week (via eClass); always look for the homework assignment on the day it is due and submit via eClass, not hardcopy or email.

Some terms/concepts to know:

  • ethnomusicology
  • world music
  • darb/durub (rhythms)
  • maqam (scale/mode)
  • quarter tones or microtones ("notes between the piano keys")
  • taqsim (instrumental improvisation)
  • layali (vocal improvisation on "ya layl, ya `ayn"
  • mawwal (vocal improvisation on a poem)
  • lawazim (instrumental fills)
  • mashriq (eastern Arab world)
  • maghrib (western Arab world)

Introducing...

  • Durub: 1,2,3,4...10
    • 1. Wahda Tayra (fox)
    • 2. bamb, malfuf, ayub
    • 3. Fals
    • 4. wahda, maqsum, masmudi, sa`idi
    • 10. sama`i thaqil
  • Maqam:
    • Rast on C
    • Hijaz on G
    • Nahawand on C

Note: see http://bit.ly/mename for links to repertoire and theory. See http://maqamworld.com for much info on theory


Rehearsal segment:


Week 2: Jan 18

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 maqamat and durub we introduced last week.

Lecture and exercise segment

  • Transliterating Arabic (see also http://bit.ly/mename)
  • Music theory and terminology:
    • Darb (lit. "strike"), plural durub: rhythmic concept (also known as iqa` or wazn or usul). We introduced several durub including wahda - maqsum - masmudi - malfuf. See my charts for definitions.
    • 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
  • Some other terms that have come up...
    • Lawazim: instrumental fills
    • Fairouz: famous Lebanese singer
    • Rahbani brothers: composed for Fairouz
    • Ziad Rahbani: Fairouz's son, also a famous singer/composer in Lebanon
    • Hedi el-Jouini: Tunisian composer/singer


Practice:

  • Compositions using basics: 1,2,4 (see above)
  • Singing patterns in Hijaz, Rast, Nahawand

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.

Rehearsal segment

(all repertoire is listed via http://bit.ly/menamerep)

  • Ah Ya Zayn (Hijaz G)
  • Bilafrah (Assiss Wara) (Hijaz G)
  • Dulab Hijaz (G)
  • Dulab Nahawand (C)
  • Lamma Bada (C)

Rehearsal

Week 3: Jan 25

Homework (due today)

Read and submit reviews for the following readings:

As before LISTEN as much as possible to our durub, maqamat, and songs introduced thus far, 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 please be able to:

  1. clap and say maqsum ; masmudi ; and sa`idi . 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, Hijaz, Nahawand, Kurd

Our durub thus far:

  • Wahda Tayra (1 beat)
  • Bamb, Malfuf, Ayub (2 beat)
  • Maqsum, Masmudi, Saidi, Zeffa, Wahda (4 beat)
  • Fals (3 beat)

Adding this week: Ciftetelli (in 8), Samai Thaqil (10 beat)

Film segment (6:30 to 7:30)

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

Rehearsal

Reminder: for music theory concepts and practice see http://maqamworld.com and the theory links at http://bit.ly/mename. Here's what we did today:

  • Maqamat: Rast, Hijaz, Nahawand. Please review these three by listening a lot on http://maqamworld.com.
  • Durub: in 2 beats we focused on Bamb, Malfuf, and especially Ayub (Zar). Then we also added Sama`i and Ciftetelli.
  • Dulab Hijaz. Dulab (literally "wheel"): a short, precomposed, introductory instrumental form. See forms at maqamworld.com
  • New songs: Lamma Bada, Sidi Mansour
  • Songs (review): Ah Ya Zayn, Bilafrah, Taht al-Yasmina (didn't get to this one)

All songs are on our google drive folder.

Week 4: Feb 1

Homework (due today)

  • Maqamat & Durub: review content from previous weeks (on your own). You should be able to sing and clap all the durub! I may go around the room asking each person to present one or two. Please be prepared!
  • Review the film on Umm Kulthum -- Umm Kulthum: A Voice Like Egypt - that we saw last week (it's on Rutherford reserve for this course, and also on YouTube, if you want to watch it again). You should have taken notes - present those notes (what stories does the film tell) and your critique of the presentation (what is the perspective given? what is left out?).
  • Listen to this radio program featuring ethnomusicologist Dwight Reynolds: The Arabization of North Africa, and write a review.

Just one or at most two paragraphs for each work (film, radio show) is fine - but be sure you cover the main points! Upload via eClass.

Lecture segment (6:30 to 7:30)

Introduction to Maqam and Ajnas theory: analyzing the maqamat

Maqamat: First group:

  • Hijaz
  • Rast
  • Nahawand

Second group:

  • Suznak
  • Huzam
  • Kurd

Ajnas:

  • Rast
  • Hijaz
  • Nahawand
  • Kurd
  • Sikah

Review of Durub:

  • Wahda
  • Masmudi
  • Maqsum
  • Sa`idi
  • Malfuf
  • Bamb
  • Ayub
  • Ciftetelli
  • Sama`i thaqil

And one new one:

  • Masmudi kabir

Rehearsal

Break into groups and decide how you'd like to arrange "Ah Ya Zayn" (consider: solo/group, group/group, repetitions, clapping patterns)

  • Ah Ya Zayn (Hijaz G)
  • Bilafrah (Hijaz G, Nahawand C)
  • Ya Banat Iskandariyya (Nahawand C)
  • Lamma Bada Yatathanna (Nahawand C)
  • Sidi Mansour (Nahawand C)
  • Taht al-Yasmina

Week 5: Feb 8

Announcements:


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: Feb 15 - QUIZ #1

First quiz.

Homework (due today)

Rehearsal

Week 7: Feb 22 - READING WEEK - no class

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


Week 8: March 1

Homework (due today)

Rehearsal

Week 9: March 8 - 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)
  • the source culture or country/region

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 (TO BE REVISED FOR 2018)

  • 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: March 15

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: March 22

Homework (due today)

Read and review:


Rehearsal

NO rehearsal today- fall break.

Week 12: March 29

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: April 5 (MENAME final concert will probably take place on Wed April 4

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

Homework (due today)

Week 14: April 12: 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: April 26 (for credit graduate students only)

  • Final paper due.
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