Program Notes:
Min Baladī, which is Arabic for, “from my homeland,” is a beginning string orchestra arrangement of three melodies from Syria, Iraq, and Palestine. Though I have made some alterations to the melodies from their original form (for instance, movement 2 is traditionally performed with micro-tones), these arrangements provide a fun introduction to the rich and varied music, and dance traditions from the Arab world. In the United States and Canada, there are an estimated 5 million people from the Arabic-speaking nations from the Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. This work is for the parents and their children, and everyone else who hopes to better understand their neighbors.
I. Hala Lala Leya هلا لا ليا
Though this song is typical of urban folk song from Aleppo, Syria, it is sung all over the Middle East. The lyrics can vary but they tell the story of a broken heart on the mend.
Hala Lala Leya (La la la etc.)
Oh, my dear one
Your broken heart has only just healed
Oh, my beautiful one
Slow down a little bit, be patient
Teaching notes: This movement features some syncopation, and extended fingerings in bars 21 – 23 for the violins I & II, and violas, respectively.
II. Fowg Al-Nakhel فوق النخل
This old Iraqi song was revived in the 1960’s by a famous Baghdadi singer named, Nazem Al-Ghazali. It has since been interpreted many times and is still a popular example of classic Iraqi urban folk music. The lyrics tell of a love stricken person speaking to their father and saying,
Above the palm trees, my father
Is that the moon?
Or the cheek of my beloved.
Teaching notes: This melody is based on the maqam (or musical mode) called Hijaz, which is has a tonic of A and is spelled: A, Bb, C#, D, E, F, G, A. Note the ‘augmented second’ between Bb & C#, which gives Hijaz its special sound. The rhythm in the celli and basses uses two versions of an iqaa’ (metric cycle) called maqsoum; short – long – short – long – long. The first is in half and quarter notes, and the second is in quarter and eighth notes.
III. ‘Ala Dal’ona على دلعونا
The ‘Dal’ona’ is a genre of song that is typically sung with a festive, and energetic line dance called, dabké. The lyrics of this particular song tell the story of loved ones who departed without saying goodbye. The singer asks a passing bird to carry a message for those who left; “I miss you.”
Both the rhythm of this song and the dance that it accompanies are based on a six beat metric cycle (iqaa’) called sudasi. The typical dance that is set to this iqaa’ has a strong stomp on the sixth beat. To simplify the notation, this iqaa’ is notated in 2/4 time, and grouped in 3 bars for each cycle.
Teaching notes: This movement features foot stomping, to evoke its dance origins, a glissando (have fun with it!), and a vocalization at the end.