Here is a brief education in Middle Eastern music listening. If you want to become more familiar with Arabic music and don’t know where to begin, I have 50 suggestions for you.
This is just a mere, humble list, and really does not do justice to the rich musical traditions of each area I mention, but it is a strong start.
I made three categories: Arabic, Turkish, Persian. The list could be copious in all three categories, but I hope this serves as a nice introduction, and gives you a little head start. I have provided all the names of the main composer or singer the song is associated with so you can dig deeper and find more songs by the same artist. Links to the song in youtube, or iTunes is provided as well.
It took me a long time to compile this list. I provided the most well-known artists and their most well-known songs for you to peruse. It was important that these artists were old as well as contemporary, classic and modern. I am sure that I have missed some, and could have done much more justice to Turkish and Persian music, but I chose more songs that I felt were relevant to Oud playing.
I hope you will use this list as a resource to find more music to listen to and hope it will help you develop your ear for Middle Eastern music. Voila!
50 Middle Eastern Songs You Have to Hear!
Arabic:
Sama’i Bayati Ibrahim al Ayran
Kadelan Qaduka al Mayaz- Iraqi traditional
Yamin Yra3eny Nabila – Mohammad Abdo
Sidi mansour/baba bahri – Traditional
Longa Farafaza – Riad As-Sumbaty
Ya Masr Hanet We Banet – Mustafa Said
Helween Men Yomna – Sayed Mekawi
Nora Ya Nora – Farid Al Atrash
Ana Wenta Wel Hob – Farid Al Atrash
Rakhse al Jamal – Farid Al Atrash
Lamma Bada Yatathanna – Traditional
Sama’i Nahawand – Jihad Ali Racy
Sama’i Awjara Ghouzoud – Said Chraibi
Wihyaat ‘Inayya – Sabah Fakhri
If you enjoy Arabic music, I highly recommend you join my FREE email course, Arabic Music 101. In the course, you’ll get access to over 40 pieces of essential Arabic music and explanation, which will help you get connected to the music and culture!
Click here to sign up for the free course!
Turkish:
Suzinak Sirto – Goksel Baktagir
Bosphorus Scenes Under the Moonlight (Sama’i Nahawand) – Cinucen Tanrikorur
Siroon Aghcheek – Udi Hrant Kenkulian
Deep Emotion (Hislenis) – Yurdal Tokcan
Dunyada Tukenmez Murat Var Imis – Erdal Erzincan
Sama’i Suznak – Tatyos Effendi
Longa Kijaz Kar Kurd – Spookh Effendi
Persian:
Bot-e Chin – Mohammad Reza Shajarian
Riders in the Field of Hope (Neynava Album) – Hossein Alizadeh
Chaharmezrab (Shurangiz Album) – Hossein Alizadeh
Tasnif Yad Baad – Shajarian/Meshkatian
Other:
Have I missed anything? What’s your favorite song? Please share in the comments below!
We are in the research stage of developing better Oud learning material and some of these songs might be included in the material. Sign up below to get updates, and feel free to tell us what you want to learn about Middle Eastern music.
Photo credit: Beverly & Pack
Hey guys Ive only checked out the first song but I think it’s brilliant to have youtube videos with the sheet music posted in the video!!!! I can follow along with the music and that helps me learn it so much better! I dunno if it was your idea or if you just happened to find this video but I think it’s a great for becoming familiar with middle eastern songs!
Thanks for your comment. No I am not responsible for creating the video with the sheet music, but it sure is a cool resource. I’m glad you enjoyed this post.
This is one of the best Iranian songs :
Thank you for sharing this. This is a very important Persian song, I totally forgot about it…
Oh that’s Bahar Dilneshin! One of the most beautiful Persian songs in my opinion. Owesome music and lyrics as well
Fantastic website, Navid! How about adding a raqs sharqi section to your 50 essential songs…Azizza, Alf Leyla Wa Leyla, Tamrihenna…these, among others, I would consider essential. Would love to hear your thoughts on this…Raq on!
Hi Jennifer,
I will definitely add those. Thanks for the suggestions! Awesome tunes!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TklzsR-8Es&list=PL31AD5200FBC2824B&index=13
Great website. Thx for the lessons. Keep it up.
It’s so beautiful! Thank you!
Hi all!
Thank you Navid for such a beautiful collection of music!
If to talk about my favourite songs from Arabic there are a lot. But I’d love to share those which are my most favourite:
1. An Iraqi song Fog Al-nakhl فوق النخل
http://youtu.be/vGB-Vj3oi78
2. Iba’atly jawab ابعتلي جواب
http://youtu.be/8fHHSUz7fM8
3. Asmar ya asmarani. This is an old song but I like it with voice of Wael Jassar
http://youtu.be/MxuLIpvynSI
Then, I’d like to mention Northern African type of music. I love their strong bit and warm sound of oud which makes me feel the spirit of the desert. In songs which I am sharing here most of oud solo is played on guitar but you still can see their traditional tunes:
1. The Idan Rachel project Vieux Farka Toure
http://youtu.be/dSIAs_kmfCo
2. Tinariwen. You can pick any of their songs and will not make a mistake – these guys are just awesome and when I listen to their songs I just can feel sitting near the fire in the middle of desert sands…
http://youtu.be/VoPPMktXCEI
Turkish:
Here I want to share only one song. Güldur Gül. Beautiful and delicate.
http://youtu.be/2flqFxo0y5Q
Fantastic, thank you for sharing your music taste with everybody!
I want songs like
Clotaire k- lubnan
Clotaire k- beyroute
hello. thank you for your good website. can you help me to find sheet musics of munir bashir? such as “peace and love” that played by omar bashir.
tnx
Abdel Wahab!!!
Thanks for the good work!
Some of my favourites:
Anouar Brahem – Badhra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RjIyoyko7g
Marcel Khalife – Komy Tla3y Al bal – ( مارسيل خليفة قومي طلعي عالبال)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68BjwANDFdM
Nagat El Saghira – Ana Baashaq El Bahr