Introduction

 

Introduction 

When I first visited North Africa and later parts of Aisa, the first thing that hit me, along with the new smells, tastes and sensory experiences was the music. Unusual string instruments that I had never seen before, pipes and flutes producing unfamiliar (to western ears) melodies, An incredible selection of percussion instruments, bells, gongs, shakers. Most of all though I was absorbed by the “quarter” tone which is one of the factors that differentiates Arabic music from Western music. At first it seemed rather harsh and “off” to western ears but the more time I spent listening to the music, the more I seemed to be intrigued and fascinated with it. It was not so easy to get hold of Arabic music back in the UK. “World” music was a very unrepresented genre and apart from the occasional find in the local record library it was difficult to source. Over the years I have delved into various elements of Arabic music but never really undertaken any study of it. I am hoping to develop my understanding and appreciation of Arabic music in this module, together with work that fuses Arabic music with other genres. 

In this lecture by Syrian artist Maya Youseff, she explains her relationship with the Kanoon, her inspirations that inspired her to start writing music and how she has used music to embody a feeling of “home” to give hope and inspiration to Syrian refugee children. 

The Power of Music: A Journey Back to Home - Maya Youssef 

Darwin College Lecture Series