The Music in the
Middle East
The music played in the
courts of the Middle East 1200 years ago is very well known nowadays. While
musicians were playing music they were composing and improvising it.
The music accompanied the
farmers and the shepherds at their work. That music was accompanied by
the dance only, during the festivals, festivities, wedding parties and
birthdays.
The music of the Middle East
had a great influence over the European music. At the beginning of Middle
Age the European armies brought all kinds of Musical instruments from the
Middle East. Africa, the second continent in size, has a very rich musical
tradition. In Africa music is played at the festivals, festivities and
religious ceremonies. People in Africa believe in spiritual link between
real life and spiritual life made by music.
In Africa drums made of drilled
tree-stumps or of hide accompany music. They play drums using their own
hands or some tricks. Drum bands have drummers playing drums in different
rhythms. All these rhythms are combined to obtain a complicated sound.
The closer the hide is the
higher the sound is.