Carnegie Hall

Aim: What are the building blocks of an Iraqi folk song?
Summary: Students will learn to sing “Tal’a Min Beit Abouha” and will explore the use of melody, rhythm, and refrains in Iraqi folk music.
Materials: Musical Explorers digital resources, Musical Explorers Student Guide, classroom instruments
Standards: National 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10
Vocabulary: iqa’, maqam, refrain, unison

Iraqi folk music is characterized by several signature musical elements. The melodic system is based on the maqam, a scale system incorporating microtones that provides the foundation for Arabic music. There are 42 maqamat (the plural of maqam) altogether in the system; each is said to have a different character and emotion. Melodies are sung and played in unison by both singers and instrumentalists, with a unique form of ornamentation. There is also an improvised vocal introduction called a mawwal, or instrumental introduction called a taqsim. Rhythms are based on a series of 38 patterns called iqa’at; a single pattern is called an “iqa’.”

These elements are common to many forms of Arabic music. A defining feature for Iraqi music is the inclusion of a wordless refrain linking the verses and chorus. The refrain is usually based on a musical sequence. It is sung on a syllable such as “lai” or “la” to make it easily accessible, so the whole community can sing along with the musicians. You and your students will learn the maqam, the iqa’at, and the refrain for both songs in this unit.

In Iraqi Folk Instruments (PDF), your students will learn about five instruments that characterize Iraqi folk music. Using Tracks 61–65, listen to examples of each instrument.

• Oud means “thin strips of wood” in Arabic, because its pear-shaped body is constructed from wooden strips. It has five pairs of strings, each tuned in unison, and one bass string. The oud is used in many cultures in Asia and North Africa, including the Armenian folk music of Zulal from Program Five.
• The qanun is a kind of Arabic harp that dates to the 10th century. It has 81 strings, with three strings for each note. The strings are plucked with plectra on the forefinger of each hand. Since the qanun only has eight notes per octave, it has to be tuned for each maqam.
• The violin has been an important part of Arabic ensembles since the 19th century. It is the same instrument used in Western classical music, but uses a different tuning system and playing style.
• The riqq is a small hand drum with cymbals around it, much like a tambourine. It is the only percussion instrument in a traditional Iraqi ensemble; the musician who plays it is called dabet al-iqa’, or manager of rhythm. The riqq can be used to play complex rhythms and ornaments using intricate fingering techniques, and can produce many different sounds by utilizing the skin, wood frame, and cymbals.
• The ney is a flute made of cane that dates back 4,000–5,000 years, making it one of the oldest instruments still in use. It is the only wind instrument used in traditional Arabic music; it has a warm, breathy sound and is quite difficult to play. Neys come in different lengths, each one tuned to a different pitch.