The musician and his public

 Primary venues for musical performances were palaces and houses of the rich
bourgeoisie and patrons.
 Music was the domain of nobility and even caliphs: Ibrahim Ibn Al Mahdi - an Abbasid
caliph who ruled briefly (816-818) was one of the most important musicians of the period
with a phenomenal vocal range.
 Al Nadim: many musicians became close companions to their patrons, sharing drinking
moments with them, and becoming their confidants. Prominent musicians of the era were:
o Ibrahim Al Mawsili:
 Companion of Caliph Harun Al Rashid
 Professional musician, singer and instrumentalist.
 Prolific composer: around 900 compositions.
 Was involved in an artistic controversy with Ibn Jami' that revolved
around the two dominant musical tendencies of the time: the Ancients and
the Moderns.

o Ishak Al Mawsili:
 Son of Ibrahim Al Mawsili.
 Considered the greatest musician of all time and regarded as the model of
the perfect widely cultured musician.
 Excellent singer, instrumentalist, composer, theorist and musicographer
who also wrote poetry and prose.
 Was also an expert in jurisprudence and philology and excelled in
entertaining conversation.
 Kept secrets as to his Art.
 Had great influence and his opinion about other musicians was decisive to
their career.
 His story with Ziryab.
 Was committed to defend the values of the ancient and classical style. A
controversy that opposed him to Ibn Al Mahdi.

o Ibrahim Ibn Al Mahdi:

 An accomplished and cultured musician of his day.
 Leader of the modernistic school that attempted to free itself from the
bonds of the strict rhythmic and melodic rules laid down by the ancients:
he advocated more artistic freedom and the giving of wider scope to the
creative imagination.