| A very diverse art form, Arabic Music, and later on, we will show the close relationship with Turkish and Persian Music, is listened to in a very vast region of the world. From the Atlantic Ocean in North Africa to the far reaches of Central Asia, and from Asia Minor (present day Turkey and the Islamic Republics of the former Soviet Union) in the North, to Central Africa and the Arabian Peninsula in the South. The Arabic Music as it’s known today in the Near East and North Africa is the product of an evolutionary art form that may have started as far back as the Greek civilization. Any student of history can testify to the contributions of the various cultures and political powers to the evolution of this art form. The Near East, North Africa and regions around the Mediterranean Sea have witnessed the intermingling of cultural and artistic knowledge throughout ancient and modern history. From the Greek, the Phoenician, the Roman and the Persian empires, to the Islamic Empire, and later the Ottomans and Europeans, a diverse musical heritage has emerged. A rich heritage indeed, and one, that is deserving of flourishing and survival, so future generations may know and enjoy.We have tried to, and continue trying, to collect and present to you a diverse number of examples representing the various Arabic musical Maqamat (Modes), musical forms and rhythms, and selected educational information about the musical structure, history and musical instruments of Arabic music. |