Music

Egyptian music falls into the larger category of Arabic music that, between the 7th and 10th centuries, was so highly esteemed by Middle Easterners that they took hyperprotective measures against the infiltration of musical trends from the West. Traditional Arabic music therefore has retained its distinct and mesmerizing quality. While Western classical music is characterized by mellifluous harmonies, Arabic music favors simple, extended melodic fines. Usually a single instrument speaks the melody while in the background percussion instruments chant.

In earlier centuries, musicians of the Arab world shunned any Western influence, but they now try to integrate sounds of the West into their works almost indiscriminately. It’s Western, therefore it’s good, think those Egyptian songwriters as yet blissfully unaware of the existence of Milli VanilH. While Western musical trends are more and more becoming a part of current Egyptian music, though, the latter still has its foundation in traditional Arabic music. This peculiar combination may surprise the unaccustomed ear, but it has an alluring, mysterious quality to it. You will likely hear Umm Kolthum, the Frank Sinatra of not just Egypt but the entire Arab world for over 50 years, smoking the airwaves.