Islamic performance genres

Islamic vocal performance traditions of Egypt : LANGUAGE PERFORMANCE IN ISLAM

Tilawa, ibtihalat, adhan, ad`iyya, tawashih, dhikr, aghani diniyya, inshad dini, inshad sufi

Michael Frishkopf

short link: http://bit.ly/islamperf

Note that the semantic scope of each of these words is different, and (except for aghani diniyya) none of them overlaps with either musiqa or ghina' - indeed to imply an overlap is somehow sacrilegious:

• musiqa: (a) theoretical-philosophical tradition (historical definition), or (b) melodic instrumental music, possibly combined with vocals (contemporary definition).
• ghina': singing (for entertainment or aesthetic pleasure)

Nevertheless, the religious genres almost always center on a sophisticated use of the maqamat.

Not only that, but
(a) because religious genres center on solo vocal performance (highlighting the text), often ametric, and
(b) because there is a preference for spontaneous expression of emotion in reaction to spiritual texts and contexts, and
(c) because in the case of the Qur'an there is also an aversion to any melodic composition, which could be considered an "association" (shirk) with God), therefore...

...vocal performance tends to feature melodic flexibility (~improvisation), developing the maqamat, and audience responses reminiscent of secular tarab (though that word may be rejected in favor of something more spiritual, e.g. nashwa ruhiyya, spiritual refreshment, or wajd, spiritual ecstasy).

Metered singing appears in corporate inshad dini (primarily in the Sufi orders, as a technique for the liturgical unification of the group), and in some religious songs (aghani diniyya) straddling the boundary of "singing" and "religion".

All genres may be categorized under what I call "Language Performance" (see Frishkopf 2013, Frishkopf 1999). Here are some examples:

Mainstream sounds of Islam

Qur'anic recitation (tilawa)

Call to prayer (adhan)

Supplications in prayer (ad`iyya)

Sung supplications (ibtihalat)

The dawn prayer rite (salat al-fajr)

Ramadan: the pre-dawn misahharati (recorded 20 July 2015 in Cairo)

Inshad dini: traditional chanting/singing of religious poetry

• Sounds of Hajj:
  • Talbiya
  • The text of the Talbiya

• Sounds of Eid prayer:
  • Takbir al-Eid: performed before Eid prayers on the days of Eid (Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha) also: [1][2].
  • The text of the Takbir

Soundscapes

At particular times of the day, week, or year, a number of sound sources converge on the listener, producing a rich and evocative soundscape.

Listen to a few examples of such Islamic soundscapes.

Sufi sounds

Inshad sufi: part of a larger ceremony called hadra or dhikr

Five Sufi Hadras from my fieldwork

The weekly Saturday hadra at the saha of Sidi Ali Zayn al-Abidin (Cairo, Egypt, 1998)

Popular music

Aghani diniyya: religious songs, usually performed by secular artists

Popular Islamic nashid, in a variety of languages e.g.

• Yusef Islam
• Sami Yusef
• Zain Bhikha (children's song)
• Mishary Rashid

4shabab, a music video TV channel carrying Islamic themes, including nasheed. Watch on YouTube, e.g. [3]

There is also a wide range of Islamically-themed western popular styles (hip-hop, rock, metal, punk, folk...even country!) See:

• Taqwacore (Islamic punk)
• Heavy metal Islam
• documentary on Islam and hip hop
• Busta Rhymes, hip hop
• Snoop Dog
• Kareem Salama and country

A fascinating underground trend is the relation of five percenter Islam (Nation of Gods and Earths) to hip hop...

• Vice article
• Five Percenter Rap, by Felicia Miyakawa
• Five percenter Islam and hip hop[4]
• Celebrity five percenters
• Erykah Badu [5][6]