Beyond the Classroom: Arabic and Asian Music

 Our last Beyond the Classroom Blog of the semester! Same ground rules apply here as in all of the other similar  blogs (Music of Indigenous Americans, Music of Africa, etc...), but it's been awhile (we've been off doing our first Big Blog), so let's reiterate the rules here:

• All the rules from the Music of Indigenous Americans/Africa blogs are still in play--three separate lines of inquiry, two of which must be explicitly about a musical topic; each item needs to include a hefty paragraph (at the very least) of description/explanation; you need to let me know where you got your information from
• Please remember that your entire blog needs to be in your own words (unless you have a really specific quote that you just have to share). Paraphrase your sources, and then be sure to cite them.
• Scope: You may go anywhere in Asia for your topics (remember, that includes the Middle East), and you may also go into the Northern, Arabic bit of Africa (but make sure to stay with Arabic music if you head back to Africa).
• More Scope: Try to go beyond what we talk about in class. If you're just dying to explore further the connections between Arabic maqams and Indian raga, or the Arabic lute or the Indian sitar, try to post significantly new information, or present the topic from a different point of view.
• Yet More Scope: You can consider any music of Asia and/or Saharan Africa that you like. It can be traditional, modern, vocal, instrumental, formal, informal, etc. Wondering what goes on in Japan? Go find out! Curious about Mongolian rock? Go find out! Curious about Chinese opera? Please, someone, go find out! (Do keep in mind that your last Big Blog will be on a culture we haven't studied--if you want to do a whole Big Blog on, say, K-Pop, it might be best to wait until then.)

Here is my (just one line of inquiry) contribution. As we've gone through the world of Arabic music, you've heard both Dr. Haecker and me make reference to Tariq Jundi. He's the oud player whose music we listened to in class, and he's truly a force of nature in the music scene of Jordan. He's also a great teacher--the Arabic music theory lesson I had with him was just a little over an hour long, but it was priceless in terms of my understanding of Arabic music. I do try to keep up with what he's doing over time, and not too long ago I found this wonderful video on his youtube channel.

I'm sure it would surprise no one to hear the Middle East described as "volatile." It seems that there is constant conflict in that area, whether that conflict be border skirmishes or all-out war. Jordan is one of the most peaceful countries in the area, where people of different Islamic groupings and different religions altogether live in a fairly peaceful environment. Because of that, Jordan houses a huge number of refugees from the wars of other countries in the Middle East. And the Royal Conservatory in Amman has a significant music therapy program. Tariq has pulled from these resources and toward this need to create a wonderful afternoon music program for children in need. Check it out!