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Maqam: the Mood of Arabian Music an Exploration of the Arabian Musical Modes for Western Audiences

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Maqam: the Mood of Arabian Music an Exploration of the Arabian Musical Modes for Western Audiences Maqam: The Mood of Arabian Music An Exploration of the Arabian Musical Modes for Western Audiences by Rafan Ahmed Bahkali B.A. in House Economy Science, June 2011, Jazan University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia A Thesis Submitted to The Faculty of The Columbian College of Arts and Science of George Washington University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts May 20, 2018 Thesis directed by Barbara Brennan Visiting Assistant Professor of Exhibition Design © Copyright 2018 by Rafan Bahkali All rights reserved ii Acknowledgments The author wishes to acknowledge the following people: To my professors, Nigel Briggs and Naomi Crellin, and Barbara Brennan for their help and support over the past two years. A big thanks to my thesis cohorts for their creative energy and collaborative spirit. My sincerest love and gratitude to Essam for always listening, supporting, and giving me the “personal space” I needed throughout this process. Last, but certainly not least, I feel so blessed for having a supporting and loving mother, who her faith in me was my motivation throughout this journey. iii Abstract of Thesis Maqam: The Mood of Arabian Music An Exploration of the Arabian Musical Modes for Western Audiences “Maqam” is an exhibition proposal that represents music as a fascinating and unique side of Arabic culture. This exhibition utilizes music as the lens to a multi-sensory and immersive experience that engages audiences with the beauty of Arabic culture. Located in the international gallery at Freer and Sackler Galleries, DC, this exhibition builds upon the museum mission of exploring and displaying cultural art that stretches from East Asia to the very west of the African content. Even though this exhibition may embrace the different type of visitors who have interests in music and cultures, it is targeting Western millennials and adult professionals as they represent the widest demographic of the museum visitors. Maqam is a unique Arabic musical concept that is traditionally believed to express different emotions and modes through melodies. As a cultural heritage, the Maqam significance comes from the role it plays in representing a distinct connection between the Arabs and emotions. The ultimate goal of this exhibition is to draw interests among Western population to accept and explore the bright side of the Arab’s culture. This exhibition is intended to engage people with Arabic music through deeper and personal understanding of the Maqam concept. Through multi-leveled interactive experience, audiences will listen, see, touch, and connect with the Arabic musical culture. iv Table of Contents Abstract of Thesis ……………………………………………………………………......iv List of Figures …………………………………………………………………….…….. vi Introduction ……………………………………….………………………………...… 1-2 Exhibition Mission/Message ………………………………………..…………………… 3 Chapter 1: Exhibition Topic Research & Overview ……..……………………................ 4 Chapter 2: Site Site Analysis …………………………………………………………………... 7-8 Precedent Exhibitions ……………………………………………...………… 9-11 Challenges ……………………………………………………………..…… 11-12 Chapter 3: Audience Audience Analysis ………………………………………………………..… 13-15 Challenges …………………………………….…………………………..……. 15 Chapter 4: Interpretive Strategy Audience Interpretive Strategy ………………………………………..……. 16-17 Topic Interpretive Strategy ……………………………………………….… 18-20 Design Interpretive Strategy ……………………………………………..…. 21-22 Chapter 5: Exhibition Design Content Narrative …………………………………….……………….……. 23-25 Design Strategy …………………………………………………………..…. 25-26 Visitor Experience ……………………….…………………………….…… 26-28 Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………….…….. 29 Bibliography …………………………………………………………….………….. 30-29 Appendix I: Precedents ………………………………………………………...…… 33-36 Appendix II: Resources …………………………………………………………...... 37-42 Appendix III: Initial Illustrations …………………………………………………..…... 43 Appendix III: Design Document …………………………….……………………..…... 44 v List of Figures Figure 1. Freer & Sackler Galleries of Art …………………………………………….... 7 Figure 2. The Art of The Qur’an Exhibition ……………………………………...……... 9 Figure 3. Turquoise Mountain Exhibition …………………………...…………….…... 10 Figure 4. Exhibition Entrances and Exits …...………………………………..………... 11 Figure 5. Experience Diagram …………………………………………….….………... 18 Figure 6. Content Diagram …………………………………………...………………... 19 Figure 7. Spatial Diagram …………………………………………………………….... 21 Figure 8. Content Layout & Visitor Flow ………………………………………….…... 23 Figure 9. Haus der Music ……………………………………………….………….…... 33 Figure 10. The Hunt at the Museum of Islamic Art……………………………..….…... 34 Figure 11. The Hunt at the Museum of Islamic Art……………………………..…….... 34 Figure 12. The Grammy Museum ………………………………….....……................... 35 Figure 13. Personas ……………………………………………………………..…….... 37 Figure 14. Hierarchy of Social Participation ……………………………..…………..... 38 vi Introduction In such a critical time where negative political voices are proclaiming cultural isolationism, it is vital to utilize art as a universal language to resist all that negativity and emphasize on shortening the distances between diverse nations and cultures. Music has a robust capacity for shaping and delivering human interchange, and it can virtually create bridges to cross the vast distances separating cultures. When creating art, artists seem to attempt to communicate emotionally with those within their own culture, yet the honest work transcends its culture and speaks directly to our common humanity. Thus, I believe now is the time for aggressively promoting multiculturalism through art more than ever before. “One rhythm, one song, can pique interest and bring acceptance of a culture.”1 Bishr Hijazi In an attempt to connect Arab’s culture to Western societies, I intend to use music as a rich and beautiful expression of the Arabic culture. Through this exhibition topic, I draw paths to understand and celebrate the divergent perspectives on how music is heard, constructed and applied as an expressive art within Arabic culture. I believe that Arabic culture has been misinterpreted within the current political context. Therefore, spotting the light on music as a bright side of the Arab’s culture will reveal the dark shades and 1 Nile, Amy. “A Las Vegas Sergeon Educates People about Arabic Culture Through Music.” Las Vegas Review Journal. Last modified Jun 25, 2016. Retrieved from https://www.reviewjournal.com/life/a-las- vegas-surgeon-educates-people-about-arabic-culture-through-music/ 1 vanish the negative reputations. The Maqam phenomenon will be the lens to an exploratory and exciting journey of the Arab’s music that will draw curiosity and bring acceptance of the culture within the Western population. 2 Exhibition Mission This exhibition aims to demonstrate the Arab’s musical identity, explore the differences between the Arabian and Western music, and bridge the gap between the cultures by utilizing music and emotions to connect people. Through this exhibition, the audience will be enticed and inspired by the Arabian music and the influence it makes on the listeners regardless of their musical background. Discovering the Maqam phenomenon along with the associated elements that create the Maqam melodic sound will open the door to a journey of joy and appreciation for the Arabic musical culture and performance. Revealing the background of the different Maqamat, plural of Maqam, will encourage the audience to understand the influence that Arabic and Western cultures have on each other. The ultimate goal is for the audience to leave the exhibition with a positive impression that they carry with them beyond the exhibition walls and spread it out among their societies. 3 Chapter1: Exhibition Topic Research & Overview The majority of musicians define music as the global language.2 In an attempt to shorten the distance between cultures and draw interests among different nations, finding a universal method of communication, such as music, offers access for experiencing various cultures and ways of communication and expressions other than verbal of written language. Thus, listening to the Arabs music means experiencing an essential part of music that exists as a result of cumulative cultures stretching from the Near East to North Africa. Music of the Arabs seems to be strongly interconnected with emotional elements. For the western ears, it is often hard to understand the Arabic music without having the knowledge of the structural elements that form the Arabian music.3 One of these basic elements is the Maqam phenomenon or the mode, which this exhibition is meant to represent. It is impossible to come across a discussion or a book about the Arabian music without illustrating the Maqamat. “The Maqam phenomenon, a technique of improvisation unique to Arabian art music, is at root of all genres of improvised vocal and instrumental music of the Arabs. This technique of improvisation is found throughout the entire Arabian world.4” 2 https://phys.org/news/2018-01-music-universal-language.html 3 Muallem, David. The Maqam Book. (Israel: OR-TAV Music Publications, 2010). 23 4 T Touma, Habib. The Music of the Arabs. (Oregon: Amadeus Press,2003). 38 4 The Maqam phenomenon is one of the foundation stones that define the Arab’s music mentality as it expresses different moods through musical tones. Arabs musicians claim that within 48 Maqamat belonging to 8 families, each Maqam evokes a specific emotion or set of emotions in the listeners.5 Moreover, in the ancient Islamic centuries, great scholars believed in Maqam as therapy and established scientific
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