Syncretic Islamic communities & their music: Difference between revisions

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== Class ==
== Class ==


Ramadan Mubarak! The Qur'an was revealed in 610, in this month, the 9th of the Islamic calendar. By Tradition this revelation began on an odd-numbered night in the last 10 days, conventionally the 27th is celebrated as this night - known as "Laylat al-Qadr", the "Night of Power", as described in the Qur'an, [https://quran.com/en/al-qadr Surat al-Qadr (97)].  The word Qur'an means "recitation", and the first revealed chapter was [https://quran.com/96 Surat al-Alaq (96)], which begins by saying "Read!" or "Recite!".
'''Ramadan Mubarak!''' The Qur'an was revealed in 610, in this month, the 9th of the Islamic calendar. By Tradition this revelation began on an odd-numbered night in the last 10 days, conventionally the 27th is celebrated as this night - known as "Laylat al-Qadr", the "Night of Power", as described in the Qur'an, [https://quran.com/en/al-qadr Surat al-Qadr (97)].  The word Qur'an means "recitation", and the first revealed chapter was [https://quran.com/96 Surat al-Alaq (96)], which begins by saying "Read!" or "Recite!".  This night is considered most sacred, a time when channels between heaven and earth are most open, every year.


Forms of language performance most prevalent in Ramadan (besides the usual ones):
Forms of language performance most prevalent in Ramadan (besides the usual ones):
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* Misahharati
* Misahharati


One functional genre are the sounds used to wake people for their Ramadan pre-dawn meal, called suhur in Egypt. The performer is called misahharati in Egypt.  The misahharati traditionally wanders the neighborhood just before dawn, using voice and small portable drum (baza) waking the people to take their pre-dawn meal (suhur), since fasting will begin with the first glow of the night sky.
The latter is a functional genre common in Egypt: vocal and drum sounds used to wake people for their Ramadan pre-dawn meal, called suhur in Egypt. The performer is called misahharati in Egypt.  The misahharati traditionally wanders the neighborhood just before dawn, using voice and small portable drum (baza) waking the people to take their pre-dawn meal (suhur), since fasting will begin with the first glow of the night sky.
[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1zjTywzH6DrNxfNwf_JG3JG0YYVQM2NzU Ramadan:  the pre-dawn misahharati] (recorded 20 July 2015 in Cairo).  
[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1zjTywzH6DrNxfNwf_JG3JG0YYVQM2NzU Ramadan:  the pre-dawn misahharati] (recorded 20 July 2015 in Cairo).  


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Ramadan is a joyful time. Besides being a religious duty or "pillar" (rukn) fasting is thought to encourage reflection and prayer, compassion for the poor and hungry, and better health.  The practicing Muslim fasts from dawn to sunset, abstaining from food, drink, smoking, and sexual relations during that time.  Just after sunset, the tradition is to break one's fast with a date and  water, then pray maghrib. There follows a meal called 'ifṭār' (related to breakfast = fiṭār).  After the ʿishāʾ prayer there is a supererogatory prayer called tarāwiḥ which has become increasingly popular in many places, with religious revival. It closes with the witr, including what can be a lengthy duʿāʾ.
 
However the night of the 27th is characterized by greater solemnity, a gravity which can become acute regret characterized by weeping during the witr prayer, especially the duʿāʾ, as it is felt that supplications will be more effective at this time.
 
In Egypt, shortly before dawn, in traditional areas the misahharati awakens the community to take their pre-dawn meal, suḥūr. In other places I've heard several early calls to prayer that accomplish the same thing.  There follows the tilawa-ibtihalat-adhan-prayer sequence for [https://www.artsrn.ualberta.ca/fwa_mediawiki/index.php/The_dawn_prayer_rite_(salat_al-fajr) fajr prayer].
 
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Intro to Gnawa and its [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq2Vy20SccA globalization]
Intro to Gnawa and its [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq2Vy20SccA globalization]

Revision as of 11:24, 12 March 2024

Syncretism from an Islamic perspective: spirit propitiation/healing groups and practices combining Islamic and sub-saharan Africa: Gnawa and Zar


Tuesday (10a)

From Kurdistan to Turkey to Morocco: Ahl al-Haqq, Bektashi/Alevi ... and Gnawa!

Due

Read/skim and review one of the following two (depending on your interests - your choice!), in conjunction with the videos posted for last week:

  1. Yaresan (Ahl al-Haqq): Introduction and Chapter 5: Ritual and Observance from “God First and Last". Religious Traditions and Music of the Yaresan of Guran, by Philip G. Kreyenbroek (feel free to browse other sections of the book if you're interested)
  2. Bektashi and Alevi: The Role of Expressive Culture in the Demystification of a Secret Sect of Islam: The Case of the Alevis of Turkey, by Irene Markoff. The World of Music, Vol. 28, No. 3, Islam (1986), pp. 42-56 (15 pages)

Watch and review: "Gnawa Music - Body and Soul" (if you have trouble with the link, search for the title in Films on Demand)

What connections can you perceive between these traditions? How are they similar or different? Consider ritual, folkloric, and popular/world musical forms (including intersections with other genres, like jazz). Compare and contrast them in your review.

You may submit both reviews in one page or less.

Class

Ramadan Mubarak! The Qur'an was revealed in 610, in this month, the 9th of the Islamic calendar. By Tradition this revelation began on an odd-numbered night in the last 10 days, conventionally the 27th is celebrated as this night - known as "Laylat al-Qadr", the "Night of Power", as described in the Qur'an, Surat al-Qadr (97). The word Qur'an means "recitation", and the first revealed chapter was Surat al-Alaq (96), which begins by saying "Read!" or "Recite!". This night is considered most sacred, a time when channels between heaven and earth are most open, every year.

Forms of language performance most prevalent in Ramadan (besides the usual ones):

  • Tilawa
  • Ibtihalat
  • Duʿaʾ
  • Misahharati

The latter is a functional genre common in Egypt: vocal and drum sounds used to wake people for their Ramadan pre-dawn meal, called suhur in Egypt. The performer is called misahharati in Egypt. The misahharati traditionally wanders the neighborhood just before dawn, using voice and small portable drum (baza) waking the people to take their pre-dawn meal (suhur), since fasting will begin with the first glow of the night sky. Ramadan: the pre-dawn misahharati (recorded 20 July 2015 in Cairo).

Ramadan is a joyful time. Besides being a religious duty or "pillar" (rukn) fasting is thought to encourage reflection and prayer, compassion for the poor and hungry, and better health. The practicing Muslim fasts from dawn to sunset, abstaining from food, drink, smoking, and sexual relations during that time. Just after sunset, the tradition is to break one's fast with a date and water, then pray maghrib. There follows a meal called 'ifṭār' (related to breakfast = fiṭār). After the ʿishāʾ prayer there is a supererogatory prayer called tarāwiḥ which has become increasingly popular in many places, with religious revival. It closes with the witr, including what can be a lengthy duʿāʾ.

However the night of the 27th is characterized by greater solemnity, a gravity which can become acute regret characterized by weeping during the witr prayer, especially the duʿāʾ, as it is felt that supplications will be more effective at this time.

In Egypt, shortly before dawn, in traditional areas the misahharati awakens the community to take their pre-dawn meal, suḥūr. In other places I've heard several early calls to prayer that accomplish the same thing. There follows the tilawa-ibtihalat-adhan-prayer sequence for fajr prayer.

Intro to Gnawa and its globalization

Instruments:

  • Guimbri (sintir, hajhouj): bass lute
  • Qaraqeb (sing. Qarqeb): cymbals
  • tbel or ganga: large drums

Musical structure:

  • Rhythms: triple, stretched
  • Scales: pentatonic


Ritual performance (lila):

Staged ritual (folklore, tourism):

World music Gnawa fusions: jazz, funk, hiphop, festival

Origins: West African music, terms, and spirituality

  • Pentatonic and triple meter
  • Polyrhythmic
  • call and response

Terms, music, spirituality


Thursday (10b)

Gnawa continued....links to jazz and popular music in the West.

Zar.


Due

Read: Liminal Rites and Female Symbolism in the Egyptian Zar Possession Cult, by Richard Natvig, Numen, Vol. 35, Fasc. 1 (Jul., 1988), pp. 57-68

Listen/watch: traditional Egyptian zar

Then browse the following sites and videos produced by two folkloric centers in Cairo:

Makan:

El Mastaba

Also note diffusion of Zar to other parts of the world:

Submit: one page on similarities and differences between Moroccan Gnawa and Egyptian Zar. Consider: the people, the ritual, the music - but also the ways this music has been folklorized, rendered "world music", or mixed with other genres. How, when, and where does the performance retain a spiritual significance, and why is that significance at other times and places eliminated? What are the reasons why the two traditions may be similar? Why are there differences?

Class

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