Eastern Music Theory
The aim of the course “Eastern Music Theory” is the contact of the students of traditional music and not only, with the music systems developed in the eastern Mediterranean.
Such musical systems are defined by the three main axes of musical systems in the eastern Mediterranean: Byzantine ecclesiastical music, the academic Ottoman music and the academic Arabic-Persian music. A brief historical overview of the creation, evolution and common features of the three systems will seek a general understanding of the subject. Then the families of the Makams will be examined especially and their comparison-connection with the Byzantine genres but also the popular musical ways.
The main goal of the course is for the student to manage in a reasonable period of time to have the theoretical knowledge but also the practical ability to recognize acoustically the musical ways and the rhythmic and morphological elements of the musical repertoire to be examined. This will be achieved through a combination of theoretical approach and experiential practice.
During the course, a number of audio examples from recordings of skilled musicians from the wider region of the eastern Mediterranean will be examined and interpreted, which will include the most popular and learned musical traditions of the region.
Teachers
Achilleas Apostolos Tigkas
Theory of Eastern Music, Ney, Traditional Fife