Another Way to Count Samai

Nadirah Johara www.nadirahjohara.com

Description: Samai is a 10/8 Rhythm that id defined by the doums AND teks of the drum The measure 10/8 basically means you are counting 10 counts in the same space as you would 8. So in reality the counts in some places speed up to account for the extra 2 beats. Samai is a very fill rhythm and can be difficult to hear since a 10/8 is very foreign to American ears. The west way to “feel” Samai is to say “waltzing up, falling down, and wait.

Count: Note these are just ONE example of a Samai. The main idea is to pay attention where the Doums AND teks are located as well as the feel of “waltzing up, falling down and wait.” Make sure you count to 10!

Another way to count Samai Samai

Where: Samai is not directly related to a folk region or dance of the Middle East. It will be mainly found in larger Orientale pieces where the orchestra is using lots of changes or as the metronome in a complete piece of music.

Music Examples:

 Semaei El Sakil : Artist – Samasen, Album – Samasen Presents Rhythms for Orientale Dance

 Samai Thaqil 10/8 : Artist – Nourhan Sharif, Album – Advanced Rhythms for Orientale Dance

 Lamma Bada: Artist-(there are many version of this song, this is ONE example) Kairo by Night, Album – Lahadat

 Faddah @ 4:09: Artist Hossam Ramsey, Album - Faddah

Dance: How does one dance to Samai? Samai can be difficult since our ears are “in tune” to hearing and counting 8. Most of the time Samai will have melodic accompaniment. Dance to BOTH the rhytm AND melody falling in and out of both. When dancing to the rhytm one can use literal variations of “waltzing up falling down, and wait”. The accents of samai are very Obvious Doums and Teks and so can be accent appropriately, always remember that each accent does not have to be “pounded on” and can be as subtle as a weight change. It gives texture and an unknown “suprie” element to your dancing! Nadirah Johara www.nadirahjohara.com

Finger Cymbals: Below is a table of just some of the options for playing finger cymbals to the Samai Rhythm. Using cymbals will also drill recognition. Samai & a 1 & a 2 & a 3 & a 4 & a 5 & a 6 & a 7 & a 8 & a 9 & a 10 ; & a 1 & a 2 & a 3 & a 4 & a 5 & a 6 & a 7 & a 8 & a 9 & a 10 D = "doum" D tek D D tek D tek D D tek basic filled, there are D tek ka tek tek D D tek tek ka tek ka tek D tek ka tek tek D D tek tek ka tek ka tek MANY variations r l r r l r l r r l R l R R l R l R R l r l r l r l r r l r l r l r l r l r r l r l r l r r l r r l r r l r r l r r l r r l r r l r r l r r l r s

r l r r l r l r l r l r r l r r l r l r l r l r n r

r l r r l e t R r l r l R R l R r l r l R R l t a

R r l r l R R l r l r l r l r R r l r l R R l r l r l r l r P

l l i Z

** Samai has string accents on the 1 , 4, 6,7 ,& 8. You can count is as "walktzing up falling down and wait"

Options: Capital letters "R" = "quack" with zills Lower case letters "r" = "ring" with zills Any R & r are interchangable, these are just ideas Also any right designation can be switched with left etc.