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Music In Saudi Arabiathere Are Obstacles In Reading The Information An
Music in Saudi Arabia faces significant obstacles in dissemination and understanding due to historical, cultural, and social factors. The geographical diversity of the Arabian Peninsula has historically restricted unified access to its musical traditions, with scattered populations and limited written records impacting the depth and authenticity of available data. Oral traditions dominate, but they lack comprehensive documentation, making scholarly review challenging. Despite these challenges, some classical and popular music forms have been identified, especially in regions like Nejd and Hijaz, revealing important aspects of Saudi musical heritage.
This essay explores the limited but valuable information pertaining to Saudi Arabian music, particularly focusing on nomadic musical traditions and urban styles. It discusses various categories of traditional music, their origins, performances, and cultural significance, while considering the external influences and modern challenges impacting their preservation and evolution.
Overview of Saudi Arabian Musical Traditions
The Arabian Peninsula's cultural landscape is characterized by diverse musical expressions influenced by geography, nomadic lifestyles, and historical interactions with neighboring regions. Traditionally, the populace includes fishermen, Bedouins, sedentary villagers, and urban dwellers, each with distinct musical forms. However, the emphasis here is on the nomadic music of Saudi Arabia, which reflects the social and cultural identity of Bedouin tribes.
Nomadic Musical Forms in Saudi Arabia
Despite minimal musicological research, certain traditional forms have been documented, particularly in the region of Nejd. These include Dewinih, Samiri, Arda, and Riddiyya, each with unique features reflective of the lifestyle, social functions, and expressive needs of the nomadic tribes.
Dewinih
Dewinih is a genre rooted in Yemeni Jewish classical songs, performed solo or a cappella, often accompanied by a one-string fiddle. Its origins are linked to lamentations by women mourning their children, emphasizing emotional expression through epic lyrics and modal melodies characteristic of the Nabati genre. This form embodies the deep emotional and historical connection of the nomads to their traditions and environment.
Samiri
Samiri is a vibrant, communal musical genre often performed during weddings and Thursday night festivities. It features rhythmic patterns created from binary and ternary meters, accompanied by frame drums and cylindrical double-skin drums, with choreography involving dancers kneeling in the sand facing each other. The lyrics derive from Nabati poetry, and the performances foster social cohesion, healing, and celebration among nomadic and sedentary communities.
Arda or Sung Dances of the Desert
Arda represents a collective dance and poetry performance symbolizing tribal strength, honor, and unity. Men form semi-circles, waving swords and singing while engaging in acrobatic movements and hieratic steps. This martial and theatrical display is central to tribal celebrations and symbolizes societal ideals of masculinity, bravery, and tribal pride, often performed during military processions or national festivities.
Riddiyya and Tribal Calls
The riddiyya category involves poetic improvisation, where poets alternate reciting verses while a choir responds, typically during social occasions like gatherings and festivals. Tribal calls consist of animal-like shouts and high-pitched vocalizations, serving as signals or expressions of communal identity. These forms are less prominent but still integral to traditional social functions.
The Historical Significance of Hijaz and Urban Music
The region of Hijaz, particularly Mecca and Medina, holds historical prominence as the birthplace of Islam and a key center for early Arab music. Influenced initially by external sources, notably Dutch orientalists, Hijaz developed a cosmopolitan musical culture that incorporated urban traditions like lute and qanun performances. These musical practices evolved to include modern styles, with rhythmic cycles often binary, and musical phrases reflecting regional stylistic identifiers.
Urban Musical Styles and Influences
Saudi urban music traditionally involves solo and choral performances, with instruments such as the lute, oud, and darbuka. Over time, external influences from neighboring cultures, colonial interactions, and technological advances like recording have introduced new dynamics. These factors have led to increased commercialization and morphological changes in traditional urban music, often diluting or transforming original forms.
The Role of Folk Heritage and Oral Traditions
Folk heritage in Saudi Arabia is anchored in oral poetry, storytelling, dance, and superstitions, which collectively convey cultural values, historical narratives, and social practices. This oral transmission ensures continuity of traditions amidst external and internal societal changes. The folk literature encapsulates the collective identity, emphasizing hospitality, tribal pride, and religious values deeply ingrained into community life.
Impact of Religion and Socio-Political Factors
The influence of Islam is profound, shaping moral codes and social conduct that often restrict or modify musical expression. Religious conservatism has limited the scope of publicly performing and recording certain types of music, especially those perceived as incompatible with Islamic principles. Colonial and imperial histories, alongside modern nation-building efforts, further complicated the musical landscape, creating divisions between traditional and modern practices.
Challenges to Musical Preservation and Development
Limited musicological research, societal restrictions, and external influences hinder the comprehensive documentation and appreciation of Saudi musical heritage. Urbanization and globalization have introduced new musical genres that compete with indigenous traditions, risking their decline. Moreover, political and religious conservatism, especially the dominance of Wahhabi doctrines, restricts expressions of folk and popular music, complicating efforts for cultural preservation.
Conclusion
Despite these obstacles, Saudi Arabia maintains a rich, diverse musical heritage rooted in nomadic, tribal, and urban traditions. The multifaceted influences and social functions of music reveal an integral part of Saudi identity. To preserve and promote this cultural wealth, increased scholarly research, documentation, and cultural initiatives are essential, especially considering the rapid socio-cultural changes fueled by modernization and globalization.
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