The Cultural Identity of Different Instrument Categories - Essay Example

Cultural Identity of following Instrument Categories
1)Aero-phones
Aerophone requires an air column to be played with. It requires the breath of the player to play it efficiently. The cultural history of aero-phones is found in Latin America. There is much artifact evidence available for aero-phone usage in historic times in Latin America (Kuss, 2004, pp.263-264). Ductless, Duct, Lip suction aero-phones, and reed-made aero-phones all are the musical cultural identity of Latin America. Other cultures use aero-phones in form of Mizwid and Nay in Arabic music (Arab Music, 2009), Mouth organs like Shakuhachi in Japan (Musical Instruments, 2000), and flutes in Indian culture.

2) Chordophones
Chordophones have a huge emergence from Arabic, Latin America, Indian, West Africa, and Chinese cultures. It is used abundantly in Arabic Music in the form of ud, buzuq, qanun, and Rabbah also in Pakistan, India, Turkey, and Greece (Arab Music, 2009). Laud, a Latin American pear-shaped instrument is a descendant of Ud from Arabic musical instruments (Torres, 2013, pp.228).

3 )Idiophones
They create the sound of music with the strike, shake or pluck. In Arabic music, seat and mihbaj are used and can be categorized as idiophones (Arab Music, 2009). Zill is an example of an idiophone used by musicians and belly dancers. Xylophones, Gong-chimes, and Cymbals Metallophones are used widely in Asian culture and hence are the most prominent culture for idiophones (Musical Instruments of the Indian Subcontinent, 2013).

4)Membranophones
These are chiefly drums. They use the stretched surfaces to create voice. Membranophones are used commonly in African, Arabic, and Asian cultures. The most prominent use of these is in African culture in form of drums. In Asian culture, the tabla is a membranophone used in Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, India, etc. In Chinese culture Tsuzmui made up of deer skin is used (Musical Instruments, 2000). In Arabic music, the instruments are tabla, darbuka, and riqq (Arab Music, 2009). Master players of riq include Mohamed El 'Arabi, 'Adel Shams Eddine, and Hossam Ramzi from Egypt (Arabic Musical Instruments, 2007).

Maqam sets the stage for Arabic Music which is a mix of melodies and Arab meter (Arab Music, 2009). Amr Diab is the best singer in this context as his voice has the best quality, texture, and Arabic influence which makes one realizes the state of Sufism. Indian and Pakistani classical music is also based on voice and its quality (Musical Instruments of the Indian Subcontinent, 2013). Read More