Yemen

Official Name: Republic of

Yemen
Capital: Sana’a
Yemen, officially known as the
Republic of Yemen, is an Arab
country in Western Asia at the
southern end of the Arabian
Peninsula. 
Currency: Yemeni Rial
Instruments
Religious restrictions limit the use of musical instruments, but the Yemenite oud (a type of lute or lyre)
is the basis for a distinctive prepertoire, with evidence of its use tracing back to ancient texts. Playing of the oud
may be supported by the gasaba (flute), mizmar (clarinet), and drums.

Marfa (Instruments)

Mizmar Mirwas Baroque Baurayzan Qanbūs

 Baurayzan Simsimiya Frame drums or sahfah Large Bowl Lyre or Tamburah

Kettle Drums or Marfa

Double headed drums (Hajir or Tabla)

Shubbabah or Qasabah Double headed drums (Hajir or Tabla)

Music
Two more traditional individual recitals, also from Sana'a:

Chants sacrés de Sanaa – Yemen / Sacred Songs From Sanaa – Yemen

The most formal yet widely adored performer of Yemeni musical poetry is the nashad, a singer with a
high-pitched voice who leads a chorus in call and response compositions, going back and forth between
demonstrating vocal artistry and eliciting participationby the group. Nashads play an important role in Yemeni
society by providing the musical soundtrack for Yemeni life events like weddings and funerals. Nashad music
(the term that refers both to the form and the performer) seems to be adapting as Yemenis become more
connected to global music, growing into modern sounds while still retaining its traditional meaning. Some
nashads for us to hear: A very catchy nashad for children, especially those with big pencils | A formal nashad
performance with a chorus | Individual nashad Naby Al-huda | A little boy aspiring to become a big nashad.

While music in Yemen does play an important role at public events, most Yemeni musical experiences
happen a bit closer to home. There is a particular tradition in Yemen of spending the afternoons and evenings
with family members and friends in a room at the top of the house, one with a lot of windows, talking about
philosophy and art, playing instruments, singing, and certainly chewing qat (introduced above). The most
prevalent music at these gatherings takes the form of homayni, a type of lyrical poetry that originated in the
14th century.

Vocal
 Different poetic/musical genres require different settings, and one would hear the zamil at large tribal
meetings, the razfah and balah at wedding celebrations, the dan at more intimate social gatherings and the
qasidah in any number of situations. The madih and the mawlid (hymns of praise to honour the Prophet) are
heard on appropriate religious occasions, but are perhaps more correctly described as recitations.

Vocal music has therefore predominated, particularly in the northern highlands where musical instruments have
been largely discouraged and, in some periods of the Yemen’s history, even proscribed. In the early part of this
century, the Imam Yahya prohibited their use (except in the military band) and forbad the ownership of
gramophones. Nevertheless, both vocal and instrumental music continued to be enjoyed, often in clandestine
conditions, and came bursting forth, often revitalised, when the prohibition was lifted.