Musical and Socio-Cultural Anecdotes from Kitab al-Aghani al-Kabir: Annotated Translations and Commentaries (Islamic History and Civilization: Studies and Texts, 159) - Hardcover

Sawa, George Dimitri

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 900438362X ISBN 13: 9789004383623

Publisher: Brill Academic Pub, 2019

Synopsis

The present volume consists of translated anecdotes, on musicological and socio-cultural topics, from al-Iṣbahānī's Kitāb al-Aghānī al-Kabīr (The Grand Book of Songs) with annotations and commentaries. It deals with musical rhythmic and melodic modes, technical terms and treatises; music instruments; composition techniques and processes; education and oral/written transmissions; vocal and instrumental performances and their aesthetics; solo and ensemble music; change and its inevitability; musical and textual improvisations; ṭarab and the acute emotions of joy or grief; medieval dances; social status. Though extracts from The Grand Book of Songs have been translated in European languages since 1816, this work presents a much larger and more comprehensive scope that will benefit musicologists, medievalist and Middle Eastern scholars as well as the general reader.

About this title

About the Author

George Dimitri Sawa is an independent scholar with a PhD in Music and Middle East Studies, from the University of Toronto. He taught Middle Eastern Music History: medieval, modern and sacred music,
at the University of Toronto (1987-1995) and York University (1982-1986, 1994, 2006-2007).

Edition details

• Publisher: Brill Academic Pub
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 900438362X
• ISBN 13: 9789004383623
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 465