University of Alberta Middle Eastern and North African Music Ensemble

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Note: In Fall 2012 the course will be offered as Music 506 or 601 for 3 credits in a single semester
. First meeting is Thursday September 6. For-credit students: please arrive promptly at 6:30 PM, Studio 27, FAB (see link below for directions). Community members: please arrive promptly at 7 PM. New members click here for more information.


MENAME (Middle Eastern and North African Music Ensemble) (Music 148, 248, 348, 448, 548)
[Fall 2012 only: Music 506 for undergrads, Music 601 for grads]

short URL for this page: http://bit.ly/MENAME or http://bit.ly/mename

Overview

The University of Alberta Middle Eastern and North African Music Ensemble (MENAME) is a University of Alberta course, a group for the study and performance of music from Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Berber, Hebrew, Nubian, Kurdish, Armenian, and other musical-linguistic communities of the Middle East and North Africa, as well as fusions thereof.

Our repertoire covers various gamuts, from specialized "high art" to participatory folk, from local to regional, from old to new. Besides studying pieces from the region (mostly songs), we also focus on regional musical concepts (tonal and rhythmic) in theory and practice, through a series of in-class exercises developing the ears in new directions.

The group gathers diverse members: musicians interested in traditions of the region; university students studying the region's culture, society and history; and members of related language communities here in Edmonton. MENAME was founded by director Michael Frishkopf in 2005 as the Arab Music Group; its scope has gradually expanded to include the Middle East and North Africa.

Technically the course is listed under University of Alberta's "open studies" program, and thus is accessible to anyone who wants to enroll. And everyone interested is encouraged to do so. Neither musical training, nor fluency in musical notation, nor the ability to play an instrument, nor fluency in regional languages is a prerequisite. All I ask is that you make a firm commitment to the group for one full year, and participate with energy and enthusiasm.

Besides regular meetings, there are also various occasions to perform in public. Minimally, I expect all group members to participate in the world music sampler, and in the final concert (see performances link, below).

NB: As of Fall 2012, the course will deliver 3 course weights per semester instead of 3 for the year, and enrollments in fall and winter will be independent. Corresponding with an effective doubling in course weights will be a corresponding rise in workload and expectations, including:

  • readings to read, films to watch on your own
  • weekly short lectures or films or analytical listen
  • a midterm and final, including performance and academic components

Please watch this space for a new course outline. You can peruse the old one using the link below.

Download the course outline for 2011-12

Meeting place and time

We meet every Thursday evening, fall and winter terms, from 6:30 to 9:30 pm, in Studio 27, Fine Arts Building (FAB) of the University of Alberta campus (between the Timms centre and HUB mall, and next to the bus stop). Studio 27 is just north of the FAB central stairwell, on the second floor. It's on your left as you cross the breezeway from HUB mall to FAB.

For prospective members

MENAME prospective students click here.

For members

Join our MENAME Facebook group (Note: log into Facebook before clicking)

Assignments for Fall 2012 credit students

Please complete readings and watch films prior to each class. Submit one paragraph of notes on each reading and each film via email to the instructor.

The midterm quiz will cover all readings through Oct 4, in short answer format. The midterm practicum will cover your abilities in modes and rhythms introduced through Oct 18.

Week 1: Sep 6

Week 2: Sep 13

Hearing the Music of the Middle East

Performance of Arab Music in Twentieth-Century Egypt: Reconciling Authenticity and Contemporaneity

Week 3: Sep 20

Musical Instruments in the Arab World

- Arab art of living

Overview of Music in the Mashriq



Week 4: Sep 27

Musical Life in Aleppo, Syria

Snapshot: Sabah Fakhri



Week 5: Oct 4

The Eastern Arab System of Melodic Modes in Theory and Practice: A Case Study of Maqam Bayyati

Rhythmic modes in Middle Eastern Music

Music in Performance: 'ud Lessons with George Michel



Week 6: Oct 11 (Midterm quiz, 6:30 - 7:00)

Week 7: Oct 18

Institutionalization of Learning in Egypt

Western Music, Colonialism, Cosmopolitanism, and Modernity in Egypt

Music in Performance: A Rehearsal with Firqat al-Musiqa al-'Arabiyya



Week 8: Oct 25 (Midterm practicum, 6:30 - 7:00)

Islamic Hymnody in Egypt: Al-lnshad al-Dini

The Qur'an Recited



Week 9: Nov 1

The Performers of Muhammad 'Ali Street in Cairo, Egypt

Dance in Egypt


Week 10: Nov 8

Learning Epic Traditions

Nubian music in Cairo


Week 11: Nov 15 (with Ethiopian music courtesy of special guest artists from the Either Orchestra)

Stardom in Egyptian Music: Four Case Studies

Snapshot: Opening Night for a Star Performer—Umm Kulthum and Inta 'Umri

The Impact of the Media on Egyptian Music


Week 12: Nov 22, Nov 24 (Concert)

Historical Issues of Gender and Music

Snapshot: Sallama al-Qass

Salama, film starring Umm Kulthum

Contemporary Issues of Gender and Music

Week 13: Nov 29 (Final Exam)

Optional readings

Music in Ancient Arabia

Classification of Musical Instruments in the Medieval Middle East

Arabic writings on music, 8th to 19th centuries

Theories of Rhythm and Meter in the Medieval Middle East

The Kitab al-Aghani

Repertoire

Things to be practicing for our next meeting.

Near Eastern Ensemble tapes (located off-wiki)

Repertoire content (located on-wiki)

Suggestion box. Please feel free to add...

Middle Eastern Dance pieces

Performances

Performances (2011-12)

Performances (2010-11)

Past concert programs

Media on the web

YouTube videos (NEW)

Other URLs

Arab music URLs

Turkish music URLs

Iranian music URLS

Kurdish music URLs

Israeli music URLs

Dance URLs

Theory

Michael's resources: PDF files providing basic maqamat and iqa`at (rhythms) for Arab music of Egypt/Levant

MaqamWorld: comprehensive treatment of maqamat, but nice coverage of instruments, forms, and iqa`at as well - Arab music of Egypt/Levant

Ja's Middle Eastern Rhythms: detailed treatment of rhythms (you'll find dozens!) featuring a remarkable MIDI rhythm generator that will play any rhythm notated using special symbols to indicate the various drum strokes

General music theory, simple introduction to Western music notation, for those who'd like to learn.

Tutorials in music theory: more advanced training in Western music notation and music theory.

Past performances

Performances (2009-10)

Performances (2008-09)

Performances (2007-08)