MENAME assignments and class schedule 2012

Click here to download course outline for Fall 2012

Please complete readings, watch films, and study maqamat and durub prior to each class. Submit a 1-2 paragraph report on each reading and each film via email to the instructor using the subject line: MENAME review

From course outline:

"Homework:  You must read, listen, and watch assignments listed on http://bit.ly/mename
prior to the class in which they are assigned. For each such assignment, submit a 1-2 
paragraph review to the instructor via email with the subject “MENAME review” before 6:30 
on the due date.  In this paragraph, 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).  This review is due prior to class; late assignments will be downgraded a quarter point per 
day. Note that all homework assignments are available online."

Midterm quizzes are scheduled for October 11 (academic, 6:30 – 7:00; short answer and map quiz) and October 25 (demonstration of performance and aural competence, 6:30 – 7:30). Final exam: November 29, 6:30 to 9:30, comprising two quizzes (academic and performance). No makeups will be allowed without a valid excuse (doctor's note or documented family emergency).

Week 1: Sep 6

Maqam: Hijaz
Durub: wahda, maqsum, bamb

(see Theory section)

Lecture segment (6:30 to 7:00)

Course introduction

Rehearsal segment: (7:00 to 9:30)

Instrumental piece:

• Dulab Hijaz on nay, and score

Songs:

• Ah Ya Zayn (traditional; here performed by the celebrated Wadi al-Safi)

Week 2: Sep 13

Maqamat: Bayyati, Rast
Durub: Malfuf, Fals, Sama`i Darij, Yuruk Sama`i, Khush Rank [D*T D*DD T*T D*DD T*T]

Homework

Remember homework is always due before class! You must submit reading reviews for each reading to me by email before class on Thursday! For details, see course outline above.

Read & review:

• Hearing the Music of the Middle East
• Performance of Arab Music in Twentieth-Century Egypt: Reconciling Authenticity and Contemporaneity

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

Lecture segment

Overview of tonal and rhythmic theory

Rehearsal

• Review pieces from last time (Dulab Hijaz, Ah Ya Zayn)
• al-Hilwa Di, by Sayyid Darwish and Badi` Khayri (Hijaz)
  • from the movie about Sayed Darwish's life, Sayed Darwish 1966
  • performed by Edmonton's own star Egyptian musician, Amr Eid
  • performed by the Gipsea band in Alexandria, at Sayed Darwish's birthplace, Kom al-Dikka, in celebration of his birthday
  • Fayruz's version
• Ana Fintizarak, by Zakaria Ahmed and Bayram al-Tunisi (Hijaz)
  • original radio broadcast of Umm Kulthum's performance. We'll imitate this performance as much as possible.
  • performed by an unknown mutrib (singer), from NJ?
  • performed George Wassouf
  • performed by Adam (?)
  • performed solo by Jannat Mahid (Moroccan)

Week 3: Sep 20

• Maqamat: Hijaz, Rast, Nahawand (review), Shahnaz (new)
• Durub: Ayub, Fals, Sama`i Darij, Yuruk Sama`i

Homework

Read/watch and review:

• Overview of Music in the Mashriq
• Listening for al-Andalus
• Arab art of living (film)

Film segment (6:30 to 7:30)

Film: Umm Kulthum: A Voice Like Egypt

Rehearsal

• Ana fintizarak
• Dulab Hijaz 2
• il Hilwa Di - guitar version
• Salla Fina Al Lahza Hindiyya, muwashshah by Sayyid Darwish (the score and lyrics sheet (revised) are available).

Week 4: Sep 27

• Maqamat & Durub: review content from previous weeks

Homework

Read, listen, and review:

• Central Asia: Overview (read the whole thing, and review. Remember a review is in 2 parts: (a) provide the main points; (b) give me your critical view - what did you think of it?)
• Music of Central Asia Vol. 1: Tengir-Too: Mountain Music from Kyrgyzstan (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, SFW40520) (listen and read the liner notes; review both together in a single review)
• Folk Music of the U.S.S.R. (Folkways Records, FW04535), listen to tracks 26, 27, and read liner notes: (a) introduction, and (b) short blurbs for these two tracks only (pp. 6-7)

Rehearsal

Special session with Kanykei Mukhtarova

Week 5: Oct 4

NOTE: the first quiz will be held on Oct 11, from 6:30 - 7:00, comprising short answers and identification of countries on a map. A study guide will be presented on Oct 4.

• Maqamat: Hijaz, Rast, Nahawand, Shahnaz (review); Rahat al-Arwah (new)
• Durub: Wahda, Maqsum, Masmudi, Sa`idi, Bamb, Malfuf, Ayub, Fals, Sama`i Darij, Yuruk Sama`i, Khush Rank [D*T D*DD T*T D*DD T*T] (all review)

Homework

Read and review:

• Musical Life in Aleppo, Syria (and as you read this, bear in mind the massive destruction the city is experiencing today...)
• Snapshot: Sabah Fakhri
• Musical Instruments in the Arab World (skim this one and report on general content)

Note: Garland musical examples are available here: http://muco.alexanderstreet.com.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/view/409890

Rehearsal

• Ana fintizarak
• Dulab Hijaz on nay, and score , with words in Kurdish
• Dulab Hijaz 2
• il Hilwa Di - guitar version
• Salla Fiana Al Lahza Hindiyya, muwashshah by Sayyid Darwish
• Kyrgyz song (?)

Week 6: Oct 11

NOTE: the first quiz will be held on Oct 11, from 6:30 - 7:00, comprising short answers and identification of countries on a map. Credit students - please arrive on time! The second quiz will be held on Oct 25, in two weeks' time.

MENAME Performance for Nigerian Association event, SUB Dinwoodie lounge, on Saturday October 13

• Maqamat: Hijaz, Rast, Nahawand, Shahnaz, Rahat al-Arwah
• Durub: Wahda, Maqsum, Masmudi, Sa`idi, Bamb, Malfuf, Ayub, Fals, Sama`i Darij, Yuruk Sama`i, Khush Rank [D*T D*DD T*T D*DD T*T] (all review)

Homework

Review

Rehearsal

• Dulab Hijaz on nay, and score , with words in Kurdish
• Dulab Hijaz 2
• il Hilwa Di - guitar version
• Salla Fiana Al Lahza Hindiyya, muwashshah by Sayyid Darwish
• Mahani Zayn, by Salim Halali [1]. We'll focus on the Emil Zrihan version (the song proper starts at 6:40) and develop a flamenco-style guitar introduction to match Al Hilwa Di.

Week 7: Oct 18

NB: The second quiz (identifications) will be held next week.

Kyrgyz music (TBA)

Week 8: Oct 25

NOTE: the The second quiz will be held Oct 25 from 6:30 to 7:00 PM.

Review for quiz

Please be ready to identify all the pieces we've studied so far, and say something (1-3 sentences) about them, including the following sorts of information (as available):

• information on the maqam and darb
• era in which it was composed and first performed
• composer and lyricist (if known)
• genre (type of music, e.g. muwashshah, dulab)
• source culture or country (e.g. Lebanese).

You don't have to know anything about them that we haven't discussed in class, and there isn't always a definite "right" answer. I'm just looking to see what information you can provide.

You will also be asked to identify:

• one or more darb (from among those we've studied)
• one or more ajnas (in relation to maqam Hijaz)

Homework

• Review for quiz

• Watch the film Dananeer (90 min), featuring Umm Kulthum, directed by Ahmad Badr Khan (Studio Misr), released September 29, 1940. The film is on reserve in the Music Library, Rutherford Library 2nd floor (check at the desk; may be filed under MENAME, Music 506, or Music 601; ask for Carmen - she'll know). Pick up the DVD remote as well. You can watch it in the Music Library's listening room. For those not fluent in Arabic, be sure to turn on English subtitles. NB: For those who are fluent in Arabic: I just found the film online also. There are no subtitles, and I can't vouch for the completeness or quality though, so if you want to watch a good quality DVD with English you should go and watch in the Music Library.

• Write a review and critique the film: how does the film represent the history of Islamic civilization and Arab music (the Abbasid period, during the reign of Harun al-Rashid), and how does that representation relate to the period (mid 20th century) when the film is made and first screened (1940s, before the Egyptian revolution)? One page, maximum.

Rehearsal

• Theory and warmup: transpositions to A (Hijaz, Sika Gharib, Rahat al-Arwah, Bayyati, Saba...)
• Kermashan shari shirinim (Kurdish) in A Hijaz (really Sika Gharib or Baladi)
• Ana fintizarak in A Hijaz (prepare to transpose by ear!)
• Dulab Hijaz #1 on nay, and score , with words in Kurdish
• Dulab Hijaz 2 with lyrics by Dana Wylie
• il Hilwa Di - guitar version
• Salla Fiana Al Lahza Hindiyya, muwashshah by Sayyid Darwish
• Afromaqam (time allowing)

Week 9: Nov 1

Kyrgyz music (TBA)

Homework

No homework this week - use this week to catch up on anything you missed (PLEASE ensure that you've sent me EVERY assignment), and please study all the songs very well!

Rehearsal

• Il Hilwa Di
• Kyrgyz song
• others...

Week 10: Nov 8

Homework

• Read and review each of the following:
  • The Muslim Call to Prayer
  • The Qur'an Recited
• Read, listen, analyze:
  • Read and listen and submit your comments on the differences you hear between the different styles of performing the Call to Prayer.
  • Read and listen and submit your comments on the differences you hear between the different styles of performing Qur'anic recitation.

Rehearsal

• Mahani Zayn, by Salim Halali [2]. We'll focus on the Emil Zrihan version (the song proper starts at 6:40) and develop a flamenco-style guitar introduction to match Al Hilwa Di.
• Kermashan shari shirinim (Kurdish) in A Hijaz (really Sika Gharib or Baladi)
• il Hilwa Di - guitar version
• Salla Fiana Al Lahza Hindiyya, muwashshah by Sayyid Darwish
• Dulab Hijaz 2 with lyrics by Dana Wylie

Week 11: Nov 15

Homework

Muslim devotional song and Sufi music in Egypt

• Read and review each of the following:
  • Inshad Dini
  • Tarab in the Mystic Sufi Chant of Egypt
  • Shaykh Yasin al-Tuhami (and listen to one short track: Inshad in the public hadra
• Watch and review the following short videos (in your review comment on how the readings help you understand the videos, as well as critiquing the videos themselves)
  • Five Sufi hadras
  • The weekly Saturday hadra at the saha of Sidi Ali Zayn al-Abidin

IMPORTANT: Don't forget to put MENAME review in the subject line of your emails (capitalization and spelling exactly like this: "MENAME review"). Many of you are not doing this, and I'm afraid I'm liable to lose assignments that enter the general (200+ per day) email stream....

Rehearsal

We'll be reviewing our entire repertoire. Please practice hard this week! Only two rehearsals before our big concert on Nov 24!

• Ana Fintizarak
• Mahani Zayn, by Salim Halali [3]. We'll focus on the Emil Zrihan version (the song proper starts at 6:40) and develop a flamenco-style guitar introduction to match Al Hilwa Di.
• Kermashan shari shirinim (Kurdish) in A Hijaz (really Sika Gharib or Baladi)
• il Hilwa Di - guitar version
• Salla Fiana Al Lahza Hindiyya, muwashshah by Sayyid Darwish
• Dulab #1
• Dulab Hijaz 2 with lyrics by Dana Wylie
• Ah Ya Zayn

Week 12: Nov 22 (rehearsal) and Concert (Nov 24)!

MENAME 2012 World Music Sampler program

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!

• Ana Fintizarak
• Mahani Zayn, by Salim Halali [4]. We'll focus on the Emil Zrihan version (the song proper starts at 6:40) and develop a flamenco-style guitar introduction to match Al Hilwa Di.
• Kermashan shari shirinim (Kurdish) in A Hijaz (really Sika Gharib or Baladi)
• il Hilwa Di - guitar version
• Salla Fiana Al Lahza Hindiyya, muwashshah by Sayyid Darwish
• Dulab #1
• Dulab Hijaz 2 with lyrics by Dana Wylie
• Ah Ya Zayn