Music of Bahrain

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Bahrain is a small island in the Persian Gulf, and is part of the pan-Gulf khaleeji folk traditions. It is also known (alongside Kuwait) for sawt music, a bluesy genre influenced by African, Indian and Persian music. Sultan Hamid, Ali Bahar and Khalid al Shaikh (a singer and oud player) are among the most popular musicians from Bahrain [1]. Bahraini hip hop is also an important part of the music of Bahrain, which has produced performers like DJ Outlaw.

The band Bahraini Osiris has achieved some international renown since the 1980s with its style of progressive rock, most recently including elements of Bahraini folk music [2].

There is also a strong Heavy Metal and Hard Rock community in the country, with many groups writing and performing original and cover songs. Noteworthy bands in the history of the community include Hard Rock outfit Dive, influential thrash metal band Motör Militia, and Progressive Rock and Heavy Metal band Avatar.

In addition, there are a number of groups whose pages can be found on MySpace--notably, Black Metal band Smouldering In Forgotten, melodic metalcore band Eternal Calamity, melodic death metal band An Undergoing Tragedy, alternative emotional metal band Severd, and hardcore/thrash metal band Path Under Calm. There are also a handful of other bands in the country, such as Backtorn, Illusions, and Broken Skulls.

Modern music institutions in Bahrain include the Bahrain Music Institute, the Bahrain Orchestra and the Classical Institute of Music. The Bahraini male-only pearl diving tradition is known for the songs called fidjeri [3].

Hind is a popular new singer from Bahrain who just released her new albu called "El Ghroub" on the Rotana label.

[edit] Khaleeji

Main article: Khaleeji

Khaleeji is a style of Persian Gulf-area folk music, played in Bahrain with polyrhythms. The style is strongly influenced by the music of Africa. Khaleeji singer Ali Bahar is one of the few Bahraini pop stars to sing in a local dialect, along with his band Al Ekhwa [4].

Middle Eastern music

Algeria - Bahrain - Egypt - Iran - Iraq - Israel - Jordan - Kuwait - Lebanon - Libya - Morocco - Oman
Palestine - Qatar - Saudi Arabia - Sudan - Syria - Tunisia - Turkey - UAE - Yemen
Andalusian - Arabic - Assyrian - Berber - Islamic - Kurdish - Persian

[edit] References

  1. ^ Badley, Bill. "Sounds of the Arabian Peninsula". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East, pp 351-354. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0
  2. ^ Osiris Band. Bahrain. Retrieved on September 28, 2005.
  3. ^ Music of Bahrain's Pearl Divers. MSN Encarta. Retrieved on September 28, 2005.
  4. ^ Ali Bahar. Bahraini Blog. Retrieved on September 28, 2005.

[edit] Further reading

  • Rovsing Olsen, Poul (2002). Music in Bahrain. David Brown Book Company. ISBN 87-88415-19-8. 
  • Muhammad Bin Faris Ensemble (2004). Sawt of Bahrein. Institut Du Monde. ASIN B00025DQEU. 
  • Various artists (1995). A Musical Anthology of the Arabian Peninsula, Volume 3 - Sowt, Music from the City. Gallo. ASIN B000004A2E. 
  • Various artists (2000). Fidjeri:Songs Of The Bahrain Pearl Divers. UNESCO. ASIN B00000AU93. 
  • Various artists (1995). A Musical Anthology of the Arabian Peninsula, Volume 2 - Music of the Pearl Divers. Gallo. ASIN B000004A2D. 
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