Carnegie Hall

Aim: How are melody, rhythm, and ornamentation used in an Iraqi folk song?
Summary: Students learn the refrain; compare and contrast the maqam and iqa’ used in “Foag el-Nakhal” with those used in “Foag el-Nakhal”; and explore vocal ornamentation.
Materials: Musical Explorers digital resources, Musical Explorers Student Guide, rhythm instruments
Standards: National 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11
Vocabulary: ornamentation, improvisation, sequence

In Iraqi folk music, singers and instrumentalists play the melody together in unison. Everyone also ornaments the melody—improvising in the moment and trying to surprise each other—creating a rich and constantly changing texture. There are two main ornaments that are used; musicians can vary these ornaments, and also invent their own.

• Listen to the vocal ornamentation demonstration audio track. Your students will hear the refrain from “Foag el-Nakhal” sung without ornaments and then with ornaments.
  • What is the same in the two versions? What is different?

Ornament 1

Ornament 1 is used to ornament a single pitch. Learn how to sing this ornament. Start slowly and then gradually speed up to see how fast your students can go.

To ornament any note, begin on the note, move up in pitch, return to the starting pitch, and finally move down in pitch.

Ornament 2

Ornament 2 is used in both descending and ascending passages, adding a note above or below each pitch in the melody. Demonstrate this ornament in a descending melody. Once again, start slowly and speed up gradually.

To ornament any note, begin on the note, move up in pitch, skip down to the note below the starting pitch, and finally return to the original pitch.

Arabic has its own alphabet with 28 letters in it. It is written from right to left. In Explore the Arabic Language (PDF), your students will be able to trace several words that come from the two songs they are learning— including love, palm tree, and house—and draw pictures that illustrate the words.

The country of Iraq lies in the ancient region of Mesopotamia, often called the “cradle of civilization”; some of the world’s earliest forms of writing, math, science, law, and philosophy were created there. In Discover Mesopotamia (PDF), your students will learn about some of the innovations that came from the Mesopotamians.

The World Is Not a Rectangle by Jeanette Winter tells the story of Zaha Hadid, an Iraqi architect who used natural elements and the world’s curves to inspire her designs. Hadid did not confine herself or her work to societal expectations, possessing courage that is reflected in her original and innovative buildings found throughout the world. Celebrate the life and work of Zaha Hadid with this book!