Much of the music that is considered Islamic music uses the scriptures of the Quran for its lyrics. This makes sure that that messages received by the lister stay consistent and true. Since Islam is such a global and heavily populated religion there tends to be differences between Islamic music from culture to culture. Despite that the fact that the lyrics and messages are essentially the same what seem what makes the music different is the actual sound of it. No matter what melody the song has the text is always independent from it. What instruments and how particular groups of muslim feel about music are also aspects affected by different cultures.
Arabian Culture
There is this understanding that that the Arabian style of music is often associated with Islam. That is why some believe that the ":Arab sound" is the true representation of Islamic music. Arab music has focus on the rhythm and moldy of the song rather than its harmony. Arabian style of music also developed its music theory from the greeks. Some regions in the middle east however don't accept musical instruments but instead only use there voices to create music. In communities that do accept music in everyday life, stringed instruments such as the 'oud and rebab.
Indonesian Culture
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Indonesia holds the tile of the country with the most Muslims in the world. Despite being its own country, Indonesia holds many instruments and customs of Arabian culture because of Muslim migrants. However Indonesia is a country that openly accepts music in everyday practice. Of course like other muslim communities they have their own guidelines for what is accepted in their music which in fact are very similar to the general guidelines understood by many muslim communities. Music has been an important component of Indonesia since historic Indonesia. Music was a sign of power or kinship. Much of Indonesia's musical influence comes from sufism, which the more mystic, or transcending form of Islam. Sufism influenced music is known for its chanting and dance. Popular instruments utilized in Islamic Indonesia are drums called, gendang, gongs, and chymes. Reasons for why Indonesians music sound is noticeably different than the Arabian influence Islamic music is because Indonesia adopts musical theory from China, more so than the Middle East. |
It is important to note that Arabian and Indonesian styles of Islamic music are not the only ones heard or played in the world. In fact within each style of music discussed there are tons of over styles of music that have their own distinct sound and customs that come along with it. Islam's musical diversity just shows the cultural diversity Islam has in general through out the world. Islam being a religion often categorized in one little box is a religion that houses many cultures under one common law.
Citations
Harnish, D. (2011). Divine inspiration music and Islam in Indonesia. New York: Oxford University Press.
Reynolds, D. (n.d.). The Cambridge companion to modern Arab culture.
Header Image:
Amal, I (2012). "I Love Music", She ever Told. [Digital image]. Retrieved From https://www.flickr.com/photos/ikhlasulamal/6857200848/in/photolist-brWWUQ-u8rTu-3D7mY1-bD4Pww-u8rV2-u8rSS-u8rU2-4f6ZCM-Kj9zt-quSpFi-Kxo1A-4AkthS-31Ec5g-c6RMCJ-c6RL8L-c6REWj-c6RGhY-c6RCwh-c6RCEb-c6RPvb-c6RLpf-c6RQhu-cjs1qy-8Rhrkn-cgGYWA-9bxC3K-4Agbx8-712Y6H-ecB8pq-aS41yt-edkztm-4WSeiq-q2cG8A-4Akur9-4Agcf2-4AgdWB-8nxpVb-cfpGmU-7n7S2W-oQxetq-cKz1LC-4AksBY-4AkuzA-ck6niL-cgGZ4A-ck6n6Y-c7C4mC-9458Ee-4AgbZk-4AkuN3. Available Under CC BY-NC
captain.orange (1999). Oud [Digital Image]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/10527553@N03/1462591033/in/photolist-5SPVHt-3efamM-pFFik-7DVnSf-dc3gC3-nC4xBy-62n36G-noTMqJ-hBtwwA-5H8U9d-dxUz4x-noJw6o-dxUzi2-8s2wYt-dxUypg-qjoxxQ-nqJSKg-2UqgN-hDFfP7-jkSKpy-5CKvxx-y695hG-dZRugq-9pyrcL-AyBp8y-njhte9-8zuZz3-hDBUdH-jnxU2C-5JUvvX-sCy4R2-pPy1ky-nhiNsx-k35X99-vmRvS1-xqQYju-74rXmN-5CKrz4-sCy5bF-pjMS1j-hDNspe-nKVhwE-dzkXbA-7jeza-aX6hwk-kEkTgy-5CKuEa-5CKtBv-5CPJSu-6V6bfb. Available under CC BY-ND\
J, M (2010). The Holy Quran. [Digital Image]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/mohammedj/5180004475/. Available under CC BY-ND
Mikaku (2010). Gendang Beleq Traditional Dance~Rambitan Village. Lombok, Indonesia 2010. [Digital Image]. Retrieved From https://www.flickr.com/photos/doliveck/4782728721/in/photolist-dj5JYD-4ufvr9-bFfdwk-9isDpv-58Ddra-5c1MJQ-58Ddrn-58DdqF-58DdqT-dptdrL-5c1MJG-4ufwPN-4ubv46-4ubtTa-4ufvVh-4ufuV7-4ubsfv-4ufuo7-yiCZ2C-8hCJC2-8hFZhh-8BKp7N-gCSyLi-5PMwaZ-4uRbcd-5QFSH8-5Qcm46-pefrc-bLybmx-eccP9n-eciqvW-yKLeDJ-hwNz-aq5pY2-dRuYKu-sUaLj-5gW58G. Available under CC BY-NC-ND
Morgan, P (2008). Dervish Sufi Order. [Digital Image]. Retrieved From https://www.flickr.com/photos/pmorgan/3189477502/in/photolist-5RQUxq-guzyQi-eXcmH-eWQZz-okkfGk-o25PS1-o25KvB-53HwPe-K7QED-716Wj5-oizdQv-ogxmDo-6KZnbA-K7QFM-9oTfwG-3gGho6-pHY28-8TbMu6-6Q6bTM-GjiR-Ghg8-cSnqtw-6NfBpw-5n59zN-7onU8F-mfcrs-5kY2ca-fLpNK-5oewwy-6mDJKM-7CuCib-fTH8yD-qEo6nN-AmYu1U-m8CK6F-qUExY5-qEpgz1-8odKdY-K7QFH-47NixT-47Nfep-e5n1wQ-xdP5g-gKTo-47SiUd-haU6w8-rfiaH-6dfffv-t8wu9-pZXt1w. Available Under CC BY-NC-ND
Reynolds, D. (n.d.). The Cambridge companion to modern Arab culture.
Header Image:
Amal, I (2012). "I Love Music", She ever Told. [Digital image]. Retrieved From https://www.flickr.com/photos/ikhlasulamal/6857200848/in/photolist-brWWUQ-u8rTu-3D7mY1-bD4Pww-u8rV2-u8rSS-u8rU2-4f6ZCM-Kj9zt-quSpFi-Kxo1A-4AkthS-31Ec5g-c6RMCJ-c6RL8L-c6REWj-c6RGhY-c6RCwh-c6RCEb-c6RPvb-c6RLpf-c6RQhu-cjs1qy-8Rhrkn-cgGYWA-9bxC3K-4Agbx8-712Y6H-ecB8pq-aS41yt-edkztm-4WSeiq-q2cG8A-4Akur9-4Agcf2-4AgdWB-8nxpVb-cfpGmU-7n7S2W-oQxetq-cKz1LC-4AksBY-4AkuzA-ck6niL-cgGZ4A-ck6n6Y-c7C4mC-9458Ee-4AgbZk-4AkuN3. Available Under CC BY-NC
captain.orange (1999). Oud [Digital Image]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/10527553@N03/1462591033/in/photolist-5SPVHt-3efamM-pFFik-7DVnSf-dc3gC3-nC4xBy-62n36G-noTMqJ-hBtwwA-5H8U9d-dxUz4x-noJw6o-dxUzi2-8s2wYt-dxUypg-qjoxxQ-nqJSKg-2UqgN-hDFfP7-jkSKpy-5CKvxx-y695hG-dZRugq-9pyrcL-AyBp8y-njhte9-8zuZz3-hDBUdH-jnxU2C-5JUvvX-sCy4R2-pPy1ky-nhiNsx-k35X99-vmRvS1-xqQYju-74rXmN-5CKrz4-sCy5bF-pjMS1j-hDNspe-nKVhwE-dzkXbA-7jeza-aX6hwk-kEkTgy-5CKuEa-5CKtBv-5CPJSu-6V6bfb. Available under CC BY-ND\
J, M (2010). The Holy Quran. [Digital Image]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/mohammedj/5180004475/. Available under CC BY-ND
Mikaku (2010). Gendang Beleq Traditional Dance~Rambitan Village. Lombok, Indonesia 2010. [Digital Image]. Retrieved From https://www.flickr.com/photos/doliveck/4782728721/in/photolist-dj5JYD-4ufvr9-bFfdwk-9isDpv-58Ddra-5c1MJQ-58Ddrn-58DdqF-58DdqT-dptdrL-5c1MJG-4ufwPN-4ubv46-4ubtTa-4ufvVh-4ufuV7-4ubsfv-4ufuo7-yiCZ2C-8hCJC2-8hFZhh-8BKp7N-gCSyLi-5PMwaZ-4uRbcd-5QFSH8-5Qcm46-pefrc-bLybmx-eccP9n-eciqvW-yKLeDJ-hwNz-aq5pY2-dRuYKu-sUaLj-5gW58G. Available under CC BY-NC-ND
Morgan, P (2008). Dervish Sufi Order. [Digital Image]. Retrieved From https://www.flickr.com/photos/pmorgan/3189477502/in/photolist-5RQUxq-guzyQi-eXcmH-eWQZz-okkfGk-o25PS1-o25KvB-53HwPe-K7QED-716Wj5-oizdQv-ogxmDo-6KZnbA-K7QFM-9oTfwG-3gGho6-pHY28-8TbMu6-6Q6bTM-GjiR-Ghg8-cSnqtw-6NfBpw-5n59zN-7onU8F-mfcrs-5kY2ca-fLpNK-5oewwy-6mDJKM-7CuCib-fTH8yD-qEo6nN-AmYu1U-m8CK6F-qUExY5-qEpgz1-8odKdY-K7QFH-47NixT-47Nfep-e5n1wQ-xdP5g-gKTo-47SiUd-haU6w8-rfiaH-6dfffv-t8wu9-pZXt1w. Available Under CC BY-NC-ND