Let's Talk Arabic - educational suite for solo instrument and piano - Opus 40 - ABOUDIAB Piano - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1897965

For the individual parts, the version for your instrument (Flute, violin, clarinet....), please reach out to the composer (for free) via his website: wajdiaboudiab.com

About the piece

"Let's Talk Arabic" is a 13-minute piece commissioned as a consortium by Angela Salvaggione as the main commissioner, and Tyne Reick as a professional commissioner.

This piece consists of six movements, demonstrating in every movement a scene from Levantine folklore and traditional music, aimed to introduce the musician and the audience to the beautiful world of Arabic music.

I- “Morsèl” (مُرسل) (2 min 6 sec)

Starting with “Morsèl” (مُرسل), which is a popular folk art in most Arab countries, is usually performed either by the rhetorical narration method or the lyrical narration method, both of which are performed solo and depend on improvisation and skill in reviewing melodic transitions.

II - “Mouwèshèh”(مُوَشَّح) (2 min 46 sec)

Then, “Mouwèshèh”(مُوَشَّح), a kind of distinctive collective singing that we got from the Andalusian heritage, which first originated during the period of Arab rule in Andalusia, Spain, today, and therefore it is called the Andalusian muwashshah.

III - “Raqsah”(رَقْصة) (2 min 30 sec)

They were followed by “Raqsah”(رَقْصة), translated as “Dance”, a fast, energetic instrumental piece of music designed to accompany the women’s dance (belly dance).

IV - “Zèffèh”(زَفَّة) (1 min 40 sec)

Then, “Zèffèh”(زَفَّة), which is a festive, energetic music used to accompany the newlyweds’ tour in the village during their marriage, when all the friends and the family sing and dance for them.

V - “Tèhwidah” (تَهْويدَة) (2 min 3 sec)

After a very quiet “Tèhwidah” (تَهْويدَة), or lullaby, is very common in the Arabic world to be sung for the kids to help them feel safe and sleep.

VI - “Dèbkèh”(دَبْكة) (1 min 52 sec)

And finally, the “Dèbkèh”(دَبْكة), which is a Levantine folk dance mainly seen in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, and Jordan, combines circle dance and line dancing and is widely performed at weddings and other joyous occasions.

I grew up in Jahiliyeh, a small village in Mount Lebanon, and I still remember these events when the village came together to share the happy moments as well as the saddest moments: it is all about supporting each other to enjoy life and making it more pleasing. Some events continue for 2-3 days, such as marriages, when everyone celebrates, sings, dances, prepares food, and meets their future dates. Other events spread over more than one week, such as a funeral, in which the home of the loss never gets empty of relatives, friends, and neighbors.