Music is widely understood as a key to understanding any culture, but Arab music should be considered a zenith of musical history and progression for the world. Frequently possessing long, haunting melodies and traditional instruments unused in the Western world, Arab music can invoke different feelings in listeners who are unaccustomed to its sounds and melodies. Although the lyrics are not accessible or understandable to non-speakers of the Arabic language, they are often used to convey political messages or to speak of everyday problems faced by civilians.
In the Fall semester of 2023, Indiana University Arabic Flagship students in the Arab Culture Through Music class taught by Dr. Iman Alramadan at Indiana University had the opportunity to interview Arab composers from across the globe, where they focused on these problems faced and how music changed the trajectory of these musicians’ lives. Students learned about the strong relationships between these artists and their art forms. They discovered how music produced today can still give us insights into its history, patterns and influences that are upheld today. For example, the use of Arab instruments worldwide has increased significantly in recent years due to the international “melting pot” concept, which blends sounds and rhythms from many cultures. The interviewees shared their thoughts on their relationships with their work and discussed the impact of war on their lives and their musical expression.
Alaa Hayani interviewed by Cecilia Ball and Heidi Livingston
Alaa Hayani rose to fame with his family in 2020 for videos in which he plays the drum or the oud and sings with his children. Hayani grew up in Aleppo, Syria, and had never considered music as a hobby or career until he saw his friend playing the oud in the street. Hayani’s uncle was a music instructor, so he had the unique opportunity to learn to play the oud and would use a notebook at home to practice and develop his skills. As Hayani puts it, “rhythm is the most important thing for an artist [to have]”, and people need to understand it in order to play any instrument or type of melody, as it all relates back to rhythm in the end.
The meeting with Rami focused on theory and the importance of rhythm and drumming in traditional Arab music. He was influenced by Ibrahim Muslimani and Mohammed Shabala. When asked about music during war times, Bakri said that he believes drumming has a time and a place, which oftentimes does not include wartime. He elaborated, “The qanun, the oud, and other instruments are more emotional and therefore more appropriate during wartimes because war does not often have the atmosphere of official ceremonies that use drums and rhythm extensively”.
Yousef Abdullah interviewed by Maddie McEwen, Hayleigh Keasling, and Aziza Machnouk
Yousef Abdullah, another drum player, left his home city of Aleppo to migrate to Lebanon, where he now lives and practices for over three hours daily. Abdullah specializes in traditional Syrian folk music and performs at concerts frequently. Being more important to him than a day job, Abdullah enjoys playing the drum because its sounds feel like a “heartbeat”.
For Abdullah, the main idea of music is that it should come from the heart and be meaningful. by alsostating that the basis of war is fundamentally at odds with that of music, because “war cannot be from the heart”.
Mohammed Al-Nahas interviewed by Patrick Lee and Sachin Talagery
Al-Nahas’s love for music was fostered at a young age when he was taught solfège, a method used to teach pitch and other skills. Much of Al-Nahas’s spare time is spent practicing and teaching music and music theory. Al-Nahas also stated that one of his greatest inspirations is Umm Kulthum, a famous Egyptian singer with great influence in the Arab world.
When asked about the role of music in life, Al-Nahas pointed to the power it holds in unifying diverse communities and societies. As the interviewing students said, “Mohammed Al-Nahas stands as a beacon, not only for his musical prowess but also for his unwavering commitment to preserving heritage, promoting unity through music, and pushing boundaries with his art”.
Mohammed Kheir Nahhas interviewed by Kendrick Mernitz and Emma Holdren
Musician Mohammed Kheir Nahhas is a flute player from Aleppo, who was primarily self-taught prior to beginning his formal music education in Aleppo. Under the instruction of Nadim Darwash, Khei Nahhas studied general music initially but then changed his focus throughout his studies. Kheir Nahhas lives in Lebanon today where he continues to perform and work with others from his homeland to preserve and share his heritage and traditional Syrian music. For Nahhas, music is “a strong link for displaced people, a reminder of home, and a way to share Syrian culture with the rest of the world”. Despite the difficulties encountered in the war and throughout his life, Kheir Nahhas says that his work would not be as widespread as it is without the war – it’s important to Kheir Nahhas that music retains a large presence in his life.
Final Thoughts
While the role of music has changed greatly due to the war in Syria, its importance has also increased for the same reasons. It serves as a way for people to share their feelings during difficult times, and it also serves as an example of Syrian culture and the rich history of the country, a reminder of what the country was like before the war. For these musicians, the war has left them with many difficult and painful memories, but it has also made them stronger and inspired them to share the story of Syria with the rest of the world. Syria’s citizens remember the lives they left behind in their homeland, and no war or conflict will erase this relationship between the people and their country.
Additional Notes:
You may find the interviews here
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Cecilia Ball is completing her BA in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures, Spanish, and Psychology at Indiana University Bloomington.
Madison McEwen is completing her BA in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures, and French with a minor in Second Language Studies at Indiana University Bloomington.
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