Yemen: Traditional Music of the North

The music of Yemen has evolved in a different manner than that of other Arab countries: it is predominantly vocal, and it does not use the maqammodal system. Religious restrictions limit the use of musical instruments, but the Yemenite oud (a type of lute or lyre) is the basis for a distinctive prepertoire, with evidence of its use tracing back to ancient texts. Playing of the oud may be supported by the gasaba (flute), mizmar (clarinet), and drums. Of note on this recording is an excerpt of music from a Yemenite Zafat, or wedding. A Zafat is the most accessible public ceremony in Yemen, and the music becomes the soundtrack to a street procession of the groom and his guests to the wedding house. Although the processional music (a responsorial song) normally lasts about an hour, this example reproduces only the concluding section with common Yemenite traditional melodies. For more on the relationship between the songs and customs, see the liner notes.

Track Listing

101	Chargui and Hakif dances	A group of villagers from Husseiniyat	05:52
102	Ghazal	Hussein Ali-Hijazi	04:57
103	Zar	Omar Yussof Traibi	03:23
104	Rahil	Yakya Faradj and a group of singers	04:15
105	Aghani Atifi	A woman and her niece singing with dekm accompaniment	05:56
106	Mutawal (1)	Kassel el Akhfach	06:15
107	Yemenite Zafat (Excerpt)	Hussein Lahed and a group of singers	05:24
108	Mutawal (2)	Naji Barakat	03:26
109	Ghina	Sisters Chaaran	02:48
110	Hakfat	Ismail Mohammed Khoureissan and Mansour el Qasaba	07:01