Nawal Elghourab
MUSHL 107
April 16, 2018
Music in Egypt: From the Ancient World to Modern Times In Egyptian culture, music has played an integral part of society since Ancient Egyptian times. Instruments ranging from the flutes, harps, and percussion instruments were documented to have been used by the ancient Egyptians. Currently, the most similar music to that of Ancient Egyptian traditions is the Sufi zikr ritual. The zikr ritual is a type of Egyptian folk music that has preserved the rhythms and use of instruments from ancient Egyptian traditions. Modern Egyptian pop music is now the most popular music, particularly amongst the large youth population of the country. Egyptian artists are widely recognized in the Middle East. In fact, …show more content…
High class musicians were affiliated with performing for nobility, and were authorized to play for highly important religious ceremonial events. A low class musician could only play for the general community and did not have the luxuries that high class musicians did. The shemayet (musician) was the highest title a musician could achieve. These musicians could perform directly to a god or goddess. They sang hymns with the sistrum. The sistrum is a musical instrument of the percussion family used in ancient Egypt to rattle. Its sound is metallic and was thought to attract the attention of the god or goddess the shemayet was performing to. One of the most popular instruments used in contemporary Egyptian music is the oud. The oud is a wooden stringed musical instrument resembling a lute. The oud has a rounded and hollow body, through which the sound travels. The oud is a chordophone, and the instrument plays a central role in most Middle Eastern music. Cymbals also are an important part to Egyptian music. Usually, cymbals accompany dance and music during Egyptian …show more content…
In ancient Egypt, dance represented a variety of meaningful occasions. There were funeral dances, which was a ritual performed with percussion instruments after the process of mummification was complete. Festive dances, performed in direct reflection of a mythical God, included acrobatic dancing and heavy uses of drums and costumes. Belly-dancing is perhaps the most distinctive and iconic dance form of modern Egyptian musical culture. It is a torso-driven, hip emphasizing dance that focuses on hip and chest isolations. In Egyptian Arabic, belly-dancing is known as Raqs Baladi- “Folk Dance.” Shimmies, a common movement of the dance, are used to compliment the sound of fast strumming beats of the oud or other chordophones. Egyptian culture has transitioned a lot from Ancient Egyptian times to modern Egypt. Although musical traditions have shifted with the times, distinctive features and characteristics have remained in modern Egyptian music that connect the people to their ancestors. Egyptian music is the most influential genre in the Arab World, and learning more about musical history in the country is contributing to a greater understanding of Egyptian culture and
MUSHL 107
April 16, 2018
Music in Egypt: From the Ancient World to Modern Times In Egyptian culture, music has played an integral part of society since Ancient Egyptian times. Instruments ranging from the flutes, harps, and percussion instruments were documented to have been used by the ancient Egyptians. Currently, the most similar music to that of Ancient Egyptian traditions is the Sufi zikr ritual. The zikr ritual is a type of Egyptian folk music that has preserved the rhythms and use of instruments from ancient Egyptian traditions. Modern Egyptian pop music is now the most popular music, particularly amongst the large youth population of the country. Egyptian artists are widely recognized in the Middle East. In fact, …show more content…
High class musicians were affiliated with performing for nobility, and were authorized to play for highly important religious ceremonial events. A low class musician could only play for the general community and did not have the luxuries that high class musicians did. The shemayet (musician) was the highest title a musician could achieve. These musicians could perform directly to a god or goddess. They sang hymns with the sistrum. The sistrum is a musical instrument of the percussion family used in ancient Egypt to rattle. Its sound is metallic and was thought to attract the attention of the god or goddess the shemayet was performing to. One of the most popular instruments used in contemporary Egyptian music is the oud. The oud is a wooden stringed musical instrument resembling a lute. The oud has a rounded and hollow body, through which the sound travels. The oud is a chordophone, and the instrument plays a central role in most Middle Eastern music. Cymbals also are an important part to Egyptian music. Usually, cymbals accompany dance and music during Egyptian …show more content…
In ancient Egypt, dance represented a variety of meaningful occasions. There were funeral dances, which was a ritual performed with percussion instruments after the process of mummification was complete. Festive dances, performed in direct reflection of a mythical God, included acrobatic dancing and heavy uses of drums and costumes. Belly-dancing is perhaps the most distinctive and iconic dance form of modern Egyptian musical culture. It is a torso-driven, hip emphasizing dance that focuses on hip and chest isolations. In Egyptian Arabic, belly-dancing is known as Raqs Baladi- “Folk Dance.” Shimmies, a common movement of the dance, are used to compliment the sound of fast strumming beats of the oud or other chordophones. Egyptian culture has transitioned a lot from Ancient Egyptian times to modern Egypt. Although musical traditions have shifted with the times, distinctive features and characteristics have remained in modern Egyptian music that connect the people to their ancestors. Egyptian music is the most influential genre in the Arab World, and learning more about musical history in the country is contributing to a greater understanding of Egyptian culture and