Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Night Breath]

First of all i would like to tell u a few things about our traditional songs


A feature of the traditional music in the UAE is that it is almost always accompanied by collective or solo singing. Another feature of the modern singing which has picked up modern beats still adheres to many of the traditional beats and styles of music. The traditional songs in the UAE belong to one of three types.

[color=orange]1- Town Songs: These songs have a specific rhythm that portray life in towns and they are sang collectively or by folklore groups.

2- Sea Chanty: These are specific to seafarers preparing for their long journey in the sea for pearling or during the actual diving. The earliest vocalists in the UAE were those who sung on the ships during the pearl diving era to provide an incentive and some kind of support and recreation for the crew. There was a specific singing form attached to each particular task: hauling the anchor, extending the jib sail, raising the mainsail, and the actual pearl diving. The leading performer and coordinator of all pearling songs was known as Al Naham.

3- Desert Songs:These type of songs belong to the Bedouin and they have their own rules and principles. They are poetic in origin and they are always accompanied by the famous Rababa. The Bedouins on land also had a form of song known as Al Hida�a which was sung by a performer to entertain and ease their long caravan journeys on camel back across the blazing desert, which relaxed them.

Today, at weddings and on holidays, which are the most popular places for singing and dancing, both the traditional and new form of the UAE music can be seen and enjoyed.[/color]

get more info from : http://www.ecssr.ac.ae
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