MUSIC CULTURAL COMPARISONS

WHAT COUNTRIES WE COMPARED TO  QATAR – MUSLIM, GULF  JORDAN – MUSLIM, NON GULF  RUSSIA – NON MUSLIM, NON GULF  ISLAMIC MUSIC

QATAR Khaliji music, is a native style of music in the Arab states in the persian gulf (Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia). It is characterized by heavy use of the traditional Tabl and the Oud.

JORDAN The Arab music with a complex rhythmic structure is fundamentally what the people of Jordan appreciate most. The smallest possible scale (the quarter-tone) is the most popular form. The vocal element is more important than the instrumental background. The instrumental part is usually an accompaniment to the singer.

RUSSIA Russian Traditional music is an only vocal style of music with a single melody shared among various vocal parts. The principle of this style of music is to be able to improvise speech. It has also an effect on the lyrics, in so far as single words or phrases are lengthened by means of vocalism or enlarged with additional syllables.

ISLAMIC MUSIC Looking at a religious view of music, some Muslims in Qatar believe that vocal music is the only permissible type and that all instruments are haram. Thus there is devoted tradition of “A Cappella” musical genre with only vocals. Other Muslims will accept drums into their music but no other instrument.