University of Alberta Middle Eastern and North African Music Ensemble

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MENAME (Middle Eastern and North African Music Ensemble) (Music 148, 248, 348, 448, 548)

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 music-languages 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 gradually expanded to include the Middle East and North Africa as well.

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.

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.

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).

Note: there's a short form for this page's URL: http://tinyurl.com/6dwpuk

MENAME prospective students click here.

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

Things to be practicing for our next meeting.

Performances (2009-10)

Repertoire

Repertoire content (protected) (located off-wiki) LOOK HERE FOR SONGS.

Near Eastern Ensemble tapes (located off-wiki)

Repertoire content (located on-wiki)

Suggestion box. Please feel free to add...

Waslas (concert programs)

Middle Eastern Dance pieces

Media on the web

YouTube videos (NEW)

Other URLs

Arab music URLs

Turkish music URLs

Iranian music URLS

Kurdish music URLs

Dance URLs

Theory

Michael's resources: PDF files providing basic maqamat and iqa`at (rhythms)

MaqamWorld: comprehensive treatment of maqamat, but nice coverage of instruments, forms, and iqa`at as well

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

Past performances

Performances (2008-09)

Performances (2007-08)