Skip to main content

Yemen: Traditional Music of the North

Various Artists
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

icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
101
A group of villagers from Husseiniyat
05:52
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
102
Hussein Ali-Hijazi
04:57
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
103
Omar Yussof Traibi
03:23
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
104
Yakya Faradj and a group of singers
04:15
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
105
Two female wedding singers with dekm
05:56
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
106
Kassel el Akhfach
06:15
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
107
Hussein Lahed and a group of singers
05:24
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
108
Naji Barakat
03:26
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
109
Sisters Chaaran
02:48
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
110
Ismail Mohammed Khoureissan and Mansour el Qasaba
07:01