Learn more about Arab musical heritage in these expert articles from the Qatar Digital Library. They include both archival material from the British Library and recent video recordings of musical performances from the Arabian Peninsula.
Sing, Play and Be Merry: The Unique Ṣawt Music of the Arabian Peninsula – Rolf Killius
Ṣawt, the urban music of the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf, has evolved from diverse musical traditions, including sea music, and was profoundly influenced by Indian, African and classical Arabic music.
Modernity Meets Tradition: Reflections on Traditional Music in Qatar – Rolf Killius
Though nowadays Qatar is well-known for its immense natural oil and gas reserves and the rapid modernization of society, it has a rich heritage of music and dance intimately related to pearl diving, sea trade and Bedouin traditions.
Hidden Treasures: Reflections on Traditional Music in Kuwait – Rolf Killius
Kuwait has maintained a thriving traditional music culture; in particular, bahri, or sea music, and ṣawt have remained at the heart of the music scene.
Sea Meets Desert: Reflections on Traditional Music in Oman – Rolf Killius
In the Sultanate of Oman, traditional music, poetry, and dance are still part and parcel of everyday life and national celebrations alike.
The Singing Sailor, Salim Rashid Suri: A Ṣawt Musician from Oman – Rolf Killius
Salim Rashid Suri, an Omani ṣawt singer and oud player became famous as the ‘singing sailor’ and for developing a truly unique style, which took influence from musical sources across the Middle East and India.
Love and Separation in Baghdad: Pesta and Rifi Songs on Shellac Discs – Rolf Killius
Pesta and rifi Songs, which developed in the 20th century from Iraqi maqam, became more popular because they were recorded on shellac and broadcast throughout Iraq in the mid-century.
Dusty Streets and Hot Music in Baghdad: Iraqi Maqam Music and Chalgi Ensembles – Rolf Killius
Kept alive until today by a very small number of chalgi Baghdad ensembles and through remaining shellac recordings, Iraqi maqam is a sophisticated musical genre from urban Iraq that developed in the 1920s‒1940s.
