Arabic Songs

The Arabic songs are very much different from any of the other styles of the Western music. In fact it is very much different from Turkish and Persian songs also.

The Arabic songs that are used the world over for dances are most often tempered heavily by the Western influences. But the original tones and notes that are used in the Arabic songs are as follows:

Based on the tonal system the arabic songs are divided into an octave, which represents twenty-four non-equal intervals. Each one of these tones has its own name. This name is generally not repeated in the next octave.

Each tone and is generally defined by the relative position of the tone to other tones, rather than the absolute pitch that each tone has. Most times the pitch can also tend to deviate by as much as a fourth from the nominated pitch.

The independence of the pitch is possible in the Arabic songs because it does not use any harmony or any chords to sound ‘off’. The tones of the Arabic songs are arranged in over seventy maqamat.

It is the use of the medium second which gives Arabic songs the unique quality. In the pre-Islamic period singing was almost the only side of music that Arabia had experienced.

Since music was not deeply pursued as a subject in Arabia, nor was it studied, it didn’t develop any individuality of its own. Therefore there is no separate category such as Arabic music. Arabic music largely consists of what the other civilizations have sent to Arabia.

In the part of the Arabian songs, two kinds of songs can find a special mention:

a. The Travelers Chant:
This is called Hida’. This chant consisted of a kind of aimless and shapeless set of Arabian songs that had a very simple rhythm. This rhythm was close to the imitation of the way the camels walked. In fact the style of the chant was very subjective and depended largely upon the singer who could get the singing up or down. This chant or style of the Arabian songs helped put one in conscious unconsciousness. This state helped the travelers forget their long trips, which took weeks and sometimes even months. Composers and singers used the rhythm and scale of these Arabian songs later for certain purposes.

b. Bondmaids Songs:
The second kind of Arabian songs consisted of the bondmaids’. The bondmaids were usually brought from outside Arabia like Syria or Africa. These bondmaids represented the entertainment of that time. It can be said that the origins of the concept of belly dancing started here.