Themes > Arts > Music > Lebanese Music > Traditions of Lebanese Music

The traditions of Lebanese music developed in the courts of the early Islamic empire from the 7th to the 13th centuries. The music is created using unharmonised melodies and rhythmic cycles having up to 48 beats. In order to catch the rhythm, the listener must follow the long pattern. Set pieces are elaborated and improvised upon, in the style of Indian Music, or Jazz performers. Much of Arabic music is accompanied by singing. This can be long poetic relations and even elaborate wordplay. The Arabic language lends itself to this kind of sophisticated, many layered word game - the greatest singers are masters of this art.
Apart from the human voice, the most important instruments are the various lutes, both long and short-necked, such as the 'ud, the bowed lute or fiddle called the rabab, the oboe-style flute known as the mijwiz or shawm and the single-headed drum called the dirbake or tablah. Various tambourines such as the daff are popular as in the double headed drum and the naker, a small kettledrum.

The 'Ud
The 'ud has a deep, pear shaped body, a fretless fingerboard, and between four and six strings. Body size, number of strings vary. The name 'ud, from the Arabic meaning 'wood', refers to the wood body of the instrument in contrast to the skin bellies of the earlier lutes.

The Dirbake (Tablah)
The tablah or dirbake is one of the most commonly played of the percussion instruments. It is usually made of clay, wood or metal with goat or fish skin stretched over its wide neck. It is held either under the arm, between the legs, or upright, upside down, and played by striking the edge or center of the stretched skin.

The Daff
Corresponding to the European tambourine, the Daff consists of a round frame, usually with goat or fish skin stretched to cover one side. It consists of a round frame, covered on one side with goat or fish skin. Pairs of metal discs are set into the frame to produce the jingle when struck by the hand. The sounds of this percussion instrument sets the rhythm of much Arab music, usually associated with belly dancing.

The Nay
The Nay is a single reed, open ended instrument which produces an extraordinary range of mellow sounds. It usually has six holes in the front for the fingers and one hole in the other side for the thumb. The sounds are produced by blowing from the pipe end and moving the fingers and thumbs over the holes.

The Qanun
The Qanun is a trapezoid-shaped instrument with at least 81 strings stretched across its length. It is placed flat on the knees of the musician and the strings are plucked with the finger or two plectra attached to the fore fingers of each hand. It has been an integral part of Arabic music since the 10th century.
Audiences applaud at the end of each section of the performance (as opposed to the western system of waiting until all the movements of a piece before clapping). As well as clapping, audiences often exclaim out loud in appreciation and shouts of 'Allah' can often be heard which urges the performer onto the next section.