VI.

Changes in Arab Music

While the general principles have been retained, the tradition of Arab music has changed throughout the centuries. Distinctive local practices have evolved and become important to the cultural identity of their respective societies. For example, the North African cities of Fès, Tetuan, Tlemcen, and Tunis have distinct versions of the Andalusian nawbah that help define local culture and are closely associated with the histories of their regions. Melodic modes of the same name are tuned slightly differently in Syria, Egypt, Iraq, and the countries of North Africa. Music of these regions is distinguishable by intonation. Rhythmic modes also have varying articulations in different locales, and styles of the melodies and the renditions differ. Sung poetry, particularly colloquial verse, changes with local dialects. The Iraqi maqam is not simply a melodic mode, but a suite of pieces in a particular mode. The word maqam in Iraq carries a meaning closer to that of waslah or nawbah than does the word maqam in other places.

Because of the absence of recording or notation until the 20th century, it is impossible to be certain of the age of the melodies. Particular melodies, specifically those of Andalusian or Syrian muwashshahat, may be centuries old, but it is unlikely that they have remained exactly the same throughout the years. Widely known musical pieces of early times were probably subject to reinterpretation at different places throughout history.