Palestine

palestine
Official Name: State of Palestine

Capital: East of Jerusalem
Palestine, is a de jure sovereign
state in the Middle East claiming
the West Bank and Gaza Strip
with East Jerusalem as the
designated capital although its
administrative center is located in
Ramallah.
Currency: Israeli new shekel,
Egyptian pound, Jordanian dinar
MUSIC OF PALESTINE
The music of Palestine is one of many regional subgenres of Arabic music. While it shares much
in common with Arabic music, both structurally and instrumentally, there are musical forms and
subject matter that are distinctively Palestinian.
In the areas now controlled by both Israel and the State of Palestine, multiple ethnic
groups and religions have long held on to a diversity of cultures. Mandatory Palestine
population with Arabs (including urban and rural Muslim classes, Arab Christians, Druze and
Muslim Bedouin) constituted the largest group, followed
by Jews (including Sephardim, Mizrahim and Ashkenazim), Samaritans, Circassians, Armenians,
Dom and others. Wasif Jawhariyyeh was one oud player, famous for his post 1904-diary.
Folk music
Early in the 20th century, Palestinian Arabs lived in cities and in rural areas, either as farmers or
as nomads. The fellahin (farmers) sang a variety of work songs, used for tasks
like fishing, shepherding, harvesting and making olive oil. Traveling storytellers and musicians
called zajaleen were also common, known for their epic tales. Weddings were also home to
distinctive music, especially the dabke, a complex dance performed by linked groups of dancers.
Popular songs made use of widely varying forms, particularly the mejana and dal'ona.
Classical music
During the occupation Palestinian classical music continued to rise, with new names in the realm
of classical music along with the founding of many symphony orchestras (such as the Palestinian
Youth Orchestra PYO, and West-Eastern Divan, founded by Daniel Barenboim and Edward
Said) string quartets and quintets which made the Palestinian Territories have the highest number
of orchestras among Arab countries.
Composers such as Salvador Arnita (1914-1985), Habib Hasan Touma (born in Nazareth, 1934,
died in Berlin 1998), Nasri Fernando Dueri (1932), François Nicodeme (born in Jerusalem 1935)
and his brother William Nicodeme (born Amin Nasser in Ramleh 1935), Patrick Lama, Abdel-
Hamid Hamam, Mounir Anastas, Samir Odeh-Tamimi (1970) and Wisam Gibran (born in
Nazareth 1970) dominated the Palestinian classical music scene.
MUSIC AND IDENTITY
Palestinian music reflects Palestinian experience. As might be expected, much of it deals
with the struggle of living under Israeli occupation, the longing for peace, and the love of the
land of Palestine. A typical example of such a song is Baladi, Baladi (My Country, My Country),
which has become the unofficial Palestinian national anthem:
Palestine, Land of the fathers
To you, I do not doubt, I will return.
Struggle, revolution, do not die
For the storm is on the land.
FORMS OF TRADITIONAL PALESTINIAN SONG
Many types of Palestinian songs, including Atab/Mejana and Dal'ona, have transcended time.
Due to the relevance of the subject matter and the need to maintain tradition and culture,
traditional types of Palestinian songs can still be heard at events of today, such as weddings or
gatherings. They still remain extremely popular throughout the Palestinian culture. These forms
of songs include:
Ataaba is the most popular type of song in Palestine. It is often sung by farmers, workers,
and shepherds as a work song.
Dal'ona is the second most popular type of song in Palestine. It is easier to compose than
ataba because it does not require the similar sound of the ends of the first three verses. However,
like ataba, dal'na has four verses of poetry, where the first three have similar endings and the
fourth usually ends with a sound like "Oana". Dal'ona is the sound of the Palestinian popular
dance, dabka, where the dancers sing it along with the sound of the shubbabah (flute), yarghool
or mijwiz.
The Sahja is another popular form of Palestinian song usually sung at weddings. It may be
done by men or women and involves clapping to the rhythm of song that is being sung to the
bride for women, or groom for men.
Zaghareet (pl) is one of the oldest forms of Palestinian songs. It is another important form of
song during Palestinian weddings. The zaghreet is traditionally sung by women at weddings or
important events. Musicians and instruments from Palestine
A KanunZither
Derbekkeh drums

Tambourine and Zills

Kanun player

Oud player


Kamanjah player

Palestine

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palestine

Official Name: State of Palestine

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