Every place in the world has a history inclusive of culture, traditions, beliefs, and practices. Dubai, a city with a rich culture, too has its methods and ideas. One of the many standard segments among the numerous places globally is music. No wonder, music is something which is enjoyed by everyone and when it comes to Dubai, it’s all about music reminisce that has been forwarded to the locals by their ancestors as a part of their legacy. It has traditional tunes and music styles with stories that go behind. Eastern Arabic music traditions from the very base from which the traditional Dubai music came into existence. Let’s read more about the music of Dubai.
Khalil and Bedouin Folk Music
Some of the traditional music of Dubai includes Khalil music and Bedouin folk music. Khalil music involves playing of the classical tabla or the drum. In Bedouin folk music, the songs are based on poetry. It may or may not require the playing of musical instruments which traditionally included the rebab and the woodwinds. This music is the native of the Bedouin nomads belonging to different places such as Sudan, Arabian Peninsula and the Levant.Musical Instruments Used in Traditional Dubai Music
1. Tambourines are plastic or wooden frames holding multiple pair of zills which creates music when shaken.
2. Drums are well known; they generate sounds when the drumhead is tapped by the player’s hands or the drum sticks.
3. Rababah which is also known as rebab, rabab, and rababa, is a bowed string instrument with spiked bottom to help it rest on the ground when played and thus also called spike fiddle.
4. Tambura is a long-necked stringed instrument with doubled steel strings.
5. Oud is a stringed instrument with a short neck consisting of eleven or thirteen strings.
6. Ney or Nay is a hollow cylindrical instrument with keyholes, basically an end-blown flute.
Traditional Music and Folk Dances
1. Haban: Sometimes known by the names Khamiri and Khayali, it is a wedding dance. It comprises of three groups, while two groups include eight males and females each, the third group consists of around ten artists. While the musicians play, the first two group members dance rhythmically.
2. Liwa: Also known as Leiwah and Leywah, it is a folk dance that is being carried out on special occasions and weddings. It includes around ten dancers and musicians, playing a pipeline flute called Mizmar and three drums named Jabwah, Jasser, and Shindo, and dancing on the battle theme reflecting its African roots.
3. Ayyalah: It involves a minimum of 25 males who stand in two rows facing each other, carrying arms and singing their lines as if challenging the other. The entire scenario depicts that of a battle in which, finally, the opponents win, and the celebration takes place. Ayala is a musical act includes playing of Al-Ras, a huge drum and Takhamir, three small drums.
Live Traditional Music of Dubai & Top Venues
If you are in Dubai and seek places where you can listen to some traditional music, here are the five venues.1. Al Hadeerah
Address: Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, Al Qudra Road
Open Hours: 7 P.M. to 11:30 P.M.
2. Al Khaima
Address: Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa, Al Mamsha Street
Open Hours: 7 P.M. to 12 A.M.
3. Castello Restaurant and Café
Address 1: Behind Jumeirah Plaza, Jumeirah Beach Road
Open Hours: 11 A.M. to 2 A.M.
Address 2: Mazaya Centre, 164 Sheikh Zayed Rd
Open Hours: 10 A.M. to 2:30 A.M.
4. Ayamna Restaurant
Address: Crescent Road, The Palm Atlantis, The Palm
Open Hours: 7 P.M. to 11 P.M.
5. Awtar Restaurant
Address: Grand Hyatt Dubai, Lobby level, Sheikh Rashid Road, Dubai Healthcare CityAlthough with changing times and crowd, this city too has different musical offerings today from around the world, these places are proof that traditional music is still very much alive amidst this evolving city. Do visit these restaurants to listen to some soulful classical music of Dubai.
Open Hours: 7:30 P.M. to 3 A.M.