Musical Cultures of the Islamic World from the Middle East to the Silk Road

Key information

Start date
End date
Year of study
Any
Duration
Term 2
Module code
158100006
FHEQ Level
6
Credits
15
Department
School of Arts & Department of Music

Module overview

This one-term module provides a general overview of the musical traditions of the Middle East and the Silk Road through critical listening to various musical practices in the region.

It is primarily centred around classical/art music, exploring these culturally elaborate traditions that share space, repertoire, instrumentation, and aesthetic values with adjacent folk and ritual/devotional domains (mostly Sufi in orientation).  

Classical music traditions of the Middle East and the Silk Road largely fall under the category of maqām, which generally connotes the rich musical-cultural heritage of a vast geographic area, from North Africa to the Middle East to Central Asia. While embodied in diverse musical forms, repertoires, and regional interpretations made by extremely varied ethnic and linguistic groups, this heritage involves widely shared practices and cultural-emotional norms that gather various music traditions under the same umbrella.  

We will explore the ways in which the sonic and intellectual frameworks of maqām-based musics (with their highly prized genres) have interacted with and shaped each other across the region. Their pre-modern roots and historical developments will be reflected on, along with their modal and rhythmic conceptualisations, modes of delivery and performance settings, as well as creative processes which can also be traced in the transmission of musical knowledge. This brings about a knowledge ground to look at the ways Middle Eastern and Central Asian societies confront broad, and at times controversial, issues such as transformation, canonisation, tradition and authenticity, religious and nationalistic ideologies, processes of westernisation and popularisation, and modern musical revivals. 

Objectives and learning outcomes of the module

On successful completion of this module a student will be able to

  • Describe the broad musical characteristics and cultural values which bring together diverse classical traditions in the Middle East and Central Asia.
  • Identify key theoretical concepts and creative processes exclusive to each of the musical domains studied.
  • Appraise the sociocultural settings in which maqām based musics are learned and performed.
  • Critically examine musical case studies with reference to the major issues and processes in the region.

Workload

  • Lectures: 1 hour per week  
  • Tutorials: 1 hour per week 

Method of assessment

  • 1,000-word review of an audio-visual example from the music of the Middle East or Central Asia (worth 25% of marks)
  • 2,000-word essay or 20-minute podcast on an issue relating to one of the given regions preferably with different case studies than those of the module (worth 75%)

Suggested reading

  • Marcus, S. (2007) Music in Egypt: Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Harris, R. (2008) The Making of a Musical Canon in Chinese Central Asia: The Uyghur Twelve Muqam. Aldershot: Ashgate, SOAS Musicology. 
  • Levin, T., Daukeyeva, S., Kochumkulova, E. (eds.) (2016) The Music of Central Asia. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
  • Nooshin, Laudan (2015) Iranian Classical Music: The Discourses and Practice of Creativity, England: Ashgate.
  • Nooshin, L. (ed.) (2009) Music and the Play of Power in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. England: Ashgate Publishing Limited.

Disclaimer

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules