“Waslah in Maqam Huzam” by Nidaa Abou Mrad and the Ensemble of Classical Arab Music

The music sample this weekend is called “Waslah in Maqam Huzam” by Nidaa Abou Mrad and the Ensemble of Classical Arab Music. Upon doing research, I am not completely positive where this type of music originates from. A possible answer is Egypt, though this country is in Africa it is considered Middle Eastern. I read that it is played by “a takht in Egypt.” A takht being a representative musical ensemble, the orchestra, etc, of Middle Eastern music.

The start of the song could be considered improvisation or it could be the beginning of the song. To my ears, it could go either way. If it is not the beginning, then the beginning is fifteen seconds in when the music is toned down and takes on a different sound. It repeats the same pattern over and over again. At fifty seconds it becomes quieter, the instrument is one and made simpler in sound. Around one-fifteen I believe the improvisation starts. I think this is improvisation, because there is no pattern. It is a random bunch of sounds and strokes, though it sounds well enough to pass for planned. After this, a singer starts to sing, beginning a new aspect to the song. The improvisation stops there and begins the pattern again. Contrasting instruments start to play, more than one type, in company with his voice. At three-fifty improvisation starts up again, this time more chaotic and with a different instrument. The “true” ending is immediately after the singer stops singing and then there is an add-on of improvisational strumming. All the singing, however, seems to be to the same tune, a strophic form. The way he sings I could imagine a story is being told as well as a slow dance to go with the scheduled music and a picked-up in speed dancing for the improvisation. This could be why it’s structured the way it is. In regards to a story, it makes me think the calm music is for the setting of the story, the drawn out explanation, and the improvisation is for the action, perhaps the emotions of the characters such as rage or despair or ecstasy. The long drawn out bit in the song struck me as distress, lostness, or confusion.

When researching this style of music, I found out more information such as that Arabic maqam is the system of melodic modes of which is used in traditional Arabic music. Arabic music is known to be mainly melodic. Maqam means place, location of position. It is also a melody type, being a technique of, yes, improvisation--improvisation that defines the pitches, patterns, and development of a piece of music. This is known to be unique to Arabian art music. It is subject to no definite organization, no "established, regularly recurring bar scheme nor an unchanging meter. A certain rhythm does sometimes identify the style of a performer, but this is dependent upon his performance technique and is never characteristic of the maqam as such." As for “waslah”--this is a set of pieces in Arabic music of which comprises eight or more movements.

As for my opinion of this music sample, I enjoyed it. It was pleasing to the ears and I think I really enjoy Middle Eastern style of music, there is something whimsical and fun about it. I liked the improvisation--is the music does belong to a story, this improvisation definitely works for storytelling.