Damascus, May. 30 (SANA) Syria’s music and folk arts reflect its unique cultural and civilizational diversity, where voices and rhythms carried by successive cultures across its lands intertwine to form a rich artistic heritage that stands as a fundamental pillar of Syrian national identity.
Alongside authentic Arab traditions, the arts of Kurds, Circassians, Syriacs, Armenians, and Turkmen flourish, painting a mosaic tableau that distinguishes Syria from other countries in the region.
The unity within this diversity manifests itself in the shared maqamat (musical modes) and rhythms across Syrian regions, despite environmental differences, as explained by singer and musician Fawaz Baqer.
He notes that approximately fifty cultural identities converge in forms such as “Ataba,” “Mawwal,” and “Bayati,” making folk music a unifying symbol of Syrian identity.
Syrian folk music rests upon authentic instruments such as the oud, nay, qanun, mejwiz, and tabla, while musical styles vary according to geography. In Damascus and Aleppo, Andalusian muwashshahat, Qudud Halabiya, and tarab music shine brilliantly, whereas rural areas and mountainous regions are dominated by folk songs and dabke dances that express deep connection to the land and the stages of daily life.
The Melody of the Desert… The Voice of the Steppe and the Memory of the Tribe
In the Badia (Syrian steppe), Bedouin songs emerge, reflecting the simplicity of the desert, the generosity of its people, and their poignant emotions. These songs are characterized by their collective nature and reliance on simple instruments such as the rebab, mizmar, and drum, alongside heritage styles like Ataba and Mejana, performed in popular and Nabati poetic forms.
Kurdish music stands out with its energetic rhythms and epic songs narrating tales of heroism and nature, accompanied by the collective dabke dance and instruments such as the tanbur, buzuq, and zurna.
Artist Alan Murad notes that Kurdish music intersects with Arabic music in fundamental maqamat, while distinguishing itself through melodic arrangement and precise tonal intervals.
Turkmen communities preserve a musical heritage closely aligned with traditional Turkish arts, characterized by gentle melodies and folk dances that reflect their cultural identity, in a harmonious blend proving that diversity is not a source of division but rather a source of enrichment.
A Diversity that Enriches the Syrian Musical Landscape
Circassian art presents a form grounded in strength and discipline, expressed through fast-paced, organized dances accompanied by energetic rhythmic music and traditional costumes.
Pioneering musicians such as Obaidat Omar, Aref Khalil, Marwan Daghistani, and Faisal Jalhaj have contributed significantly to preserving this heritage and transmitting it across generations.
Circassian music relies on distinctive instruments, most notably the “pshina,” “shichepshin,” “kamel,” and “shina,” alongside percussion instruments that lend a unique character to performances.
Syriacs and Armenians contribute to enriching Syria’s musical landscape through spiritual hymns, folk dances, and traditional music carrying a deeply rooted collective memory, affirming the role of art in preserving identity.
This musical diversity embodies a living model of coexistence among Syrian cultures, where each region possesses its own distinctive arts, yet all converge within a single cultural fabric that reflects the unity of Syrian society and the richness of its identity.
Folk music is not merely preserved heritage; it is a living spirit pulsating through celebrations and occasions, affirming that cultural diversity is a national treasure that strengthens unity and enriches identity.
Iman Alzuheiri/MZ
