Music of Jordan
|
|
| Arab music | |
|---|---|
| Algeria | Bahrain |
| Egypt | Iraq |
| Islamic | Jordan |
| Kuwait | Lebanon |
| Libya | Morocco |
| Oman | Palestine |
| Qatar | Saudi Arabia |
| Syria | Tunisia |
| UAE | Yemen |
| Andalusian classical music | |
The music of Jordan can be distinguished from that of its neighboring countries like Syria and Saudi Arabia by its strong Bedouin influence. Zajal songs played with a rabab and reed pipe ensemble accompanying is popular. The Bedu singer Omar Abdullat is perhaps Jordan's biggest star, known for his patriotic song "Hashemi, Hashemi". Another well-known Jordanian musician is Qamar Badwan, who won the golden prize in the 2000 Cairo Song Festival [1] (http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2001/558/cu7.htm), the Jordanian Women for Arabic Music Ensemble, percussionist Hani Naser and the pianist and composer Khalid Asad.
Folk music
Jordanian Arab music is pentatonic and uses elaborate rhythms. Folk songs are often narratives, accompanied by rabab, reed pipe, mujwiz or ney (flutes), gerbeh (bagpipes) and oud (lute). Small lap drums are also used [2] (http://cp.settlement.org/english/jordan/arts.html).
Music institutions
There is a National Jordanian Music Institution, Jordanian Music Centre (Muntada Huwa al-Fan), National Music Conservatory (NMC, part of Yarmouk University) and a Jordanian Music Council. There is also a Jordanian Song Festival.
References
- Badley, Bill and Zein al Jundi. "Europe Meets Asia". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East, pp 391-395. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0
- [3] (http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2001/558/cu7.htm)
- [4] (http://cp.settlement.org/english/jordan/arts.html)