MUSIC

of
WEST
ASIA
 LEARNING TARGETS:

- Listen perceptively to music of West Asia;

- Explain how music of a West Asian country
relate to its geography and culture;
- Analyze musical elements of selected
songs and instrumental pieces heard and
performed; and
- Sing songs from West Asia.
WEST ASIA
● Also known as the
Middle East

- Turkey - Iraq
- Israel - Yemen
- Iran - Lebanon
- Saudi Arabia - Qatar
- Jordan - Oman
- Kuwait - Bahrain
- United Arab Emirates
MUSIC of WEST ASIA
● is not written
down but is
improvised
upon
framework-like
patterns
 MUSIC
of
ISRAEL
ISRAEL
● State of Israel
● Parliamentary republic
in the Middle East
● Along eastern shore of
the Mediterranean Sea
● A Jewish and
Democratic state
● World’s only Jewish-
majority state
ISRAEL

● The only country

in the world
where life
revolves around
the Hebrew
calendar
ISRAEL
MUSIC of ISRAEL
● Contains musical
influences from all
over the world
- Sephardic music
- Hasidic melodies
- Belly dancing music
- Greek music
- Jazz
- Pop and rock
MUSIC of ISRAEL
● A combination of
Jewish and non-
Jewish music
traditions
● An integral part of
its national
identity
 MUSIC of ISRAEL influences
from:
• Russian Folk Music – Russian folk tunes with
translated or new lyrics in Hebrew
• Klezmer – Israeli folk music, with lyrics
translated from the Yiddish, or new Hebrew
words
• Muzika Mizrahit – combines eastern and
western elements
• Bouzouki – Greek style music translated
into Hebrew
 MUSIC of ISRAEL influences
from:
• Jewish Yemenite music – the music of
ancient Hebrew and usually performed in
the home, in a window-lined room at the
top of the house
Devotional Secular
• More on vocal music • Uses instrumental and vocal music
• Uses the shofar to call for • Use for passage events
repentance and prayer • Rhythmic and uses of romantic
• Attribute Sabbath and other Holy texts
Days
 MUSICAL ELEMENTS
MUSICAL ELEMENTS CHARACTERISTICS
Rhythm Dance rhythms have strong off beats
Asymmetric meters
Modes of Middle East
Melody Lyrics relate to Israeli experience
Uses minor keys
Timbre Throaty, guttural voice
Harmony and Texture Heterophonic

Form Improvisionary
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

 Israeli music
was always
accompanied
by singing,
dancing, and
musical
instruments
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Riq Sistrum
Birch
 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Psaltery
Shofar
Kinnor
Zum Gali Gali

Zum Gali Gali Gali

Zum Gali Gali
Zum Gali Gali Gali
Zum Gali Gali
 Zum Gali Gali

Pioneers work hard on the land

Men and women work hand in
hand
As they labor all day long
They lift their voice in a song
THE
END!