MI week 2
Tuesday (2a)
Due today
Report including the following four works - address each in 1-2 paragraphs, and submit on eClass 2a.
- al-Said, Labib. The Recited Koran, pp. 11-27, 53-76
- Frishkopf, Michael. Mediated Qur'anic Recitation and the Contestation of Islam in Contemporary Egypt , pp. 75-84 top part , and pp. 111 (Conclusions) to 114 (& read more if you’d like). Listen to the audio examples: ex 3.1, Mustafa Ismail - Mujawwad style, ex 3.2, Mustafa Ismail - Murattal style, ex. 3.3, Ahmad al-Ajmi - Saudi style,
- Nelson, Kristina. The Art of Reciting the Qur'an (on reserve, in bookstore, and also online); browse this important book. Read selectively according to your interests, and get a sense of its overall scope and limits. (Note: You do not need to read the whole book! This is an opportunity to practice an important scholarly technique: selective skimming.)
- Koran by Heart, a beautiful documentary about a Qur'an competition. (Kristina Nelson served as consultant on this film.)
Also: memorize Surat Ikhlas (chapter 112 of the Qur'an) -- containing just four short verses -- and try to perform along with the recording, using this website: http://quran.com/112. Note that you can turn transliteration on or off, and listen. The Qur'an contains 114 chapters or suras, arranged roughly from long to short. Surat al-Ikhlas (chapter of Sincerity), also known as Surat al-Tawhid (chapter of Unity) is said to contain the essence of the Qur'an as a whole.
Watch this video from The Guardian, in which a calligrapher speaks and demonstrates his art. Have a look at the calligraphic representation of the Qur'an.
For those who are interested, here are some links on Arabic script and calligraphy:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBYFPI8gIt4 technique of the calligrapher
- http://web.stanford.edu/dept/lc/arabic/alphabet/ (really nice site - you can see each letter, watch it being drawn, and hear its sound)
- http://scriptsource.org/cms/scripts/page.php?item_id=script_detail&key=Arab (technical discussion of the alphabet and script)
- http://www.omniglot.com/charts/print/arabic.pdf (a chart)
- http://www.omniglot.com/writing/arabic.htm (more)
- http://www.mastersofistanbul.com/en/ustalar/2/calligraphy Turkish masters of calligraphy
Class
- What is the value in examining the "sounds of Islam"? "Music of Muslim societies" from an Islamic perspective? Course goals.
- Review - some aspects of Islam and Islamicate
- 5 pillars of Islam; sonic aspects
- 6 articles of faith
- Basic facts about the "Islamicate" (Islamic civilizations) and its music
- Islam's focus on "the word" (kalima): "language performance" as key concept (textual - sonic - social). All ritual centers on "al-kalima".
- Abstract word is rendered sensible (in sound, in text) - e.g. Qur'an: in tilawa, in mushaf
- Ramification (adaptation to the local): sound and text - "Language performance"
- Sound as invisible social binder, carrying information beyond text, below discursive radar
- Adhan
- intro
- Map of adhans around the world. Note variation in performance style; consistency in text (mostly). Where does the text differ and why? How does Adhan convey ideology?
- Women and Adhan
- Try reciting the Adhan, in multiple maqamat, following this notation
- Qur'an
- The structure of the Qur'an. The word - written (mushaf), recited (tilawa)
- Major themes of the Qur'an
- Film: Qur'an by Heart. What do you learn about Islam through its sonic dimension that you might not learn otherwise?
- [1]. Mujawwad, murattal.
- Ahkam al-Tajwid - manuals
- Calligraphy: Surat al-Ikhlas
- Recitation: Surat al-Ikhlas
- Surat Yusuf: multiple versions. How does recitation convey ideology without varying the text? [2]
- Women and Tilawa
- Language Performance: LP (ppt on adhan - ICTM seminar)
Thursday (2b)
No class today, but please submit assignments on time anyway. Note assignments for Week 3 under the appropriate link on the main outline page.
Due today
Report including the following four works - address each in 1-2 paragraphs, and submit on eClass 2b.
(you can submit this assignment as late as midnight tonight - there is no class, so you may use the class time to watch one of the films)
- Shiloah, Music in the World of Islam, pp. 1-26
- Schimmel, Islam, pp. 29-50
- Empire of Faith part 2
- The Message
Class
No class today! Please watch one of the above films.