Kurdish music refers to music performed in the Kurdish languages and Zaza-Gorani languages. [1] [2] The earliest study of Kurdish music was initiated by the renowned Armenian priest and composer Komitas in 1903, [3] when he published his work " Chansons kurdes transcrites par le pere Komitas" which consisted of twelve Kurdish melodies which he had collected. [4] The Armenian Karapetê Xaço also preserved many traditional Kurdish melodies throughout the 20th century by recording and performing them. [5] In 1909, Scholar Isya Joseph published the work "Yezidi works" in which he documented the musical practice of the Yazidis including the role of the musician-like qewal figures and the instruments used by the minority. [6]
Kurdish music appeared in phonographs in the late 1920s, when music companies in Baghdad began recording songs performed by Kurdish artists. [7]
Despite being secondary to vocals, Kurds use many instruments in traditional music. [8] Musical instruments include the tembûr (see kurdish tanbur), bağlama, qernête, daf, duduk, kaval, long flute (şimşal), [9] kemenche, [10] oboe (zirne) and drum (dahol). [11]
Traditional Kurdish music is culturally distinct from Arabic, Armenian and Turkish music, [12] and mostly composed by people who remained anonymous. [13] Thematically, the music were of melancholic and elegiac character, but has since then incorporated more upbeat and joyous melodies. [14]
Kurdish folklore consists of three genres: the storytellers (çîrokbêj), bards ( dengbêj) and popular singers (stranbêj). [15]
Moreover, there are religious-themed songs (lawje) [16] seasonal musical topics, for example "payizok" that are songs about the return to the summer pastures performed in autumn. [17] Kurdish improvisations are called teqsîm. [18]
In Iraq, tolerance for Kurdish music ceased with the Saddam regime (1979–2003) which put in place restrictions against Kurdish culture. [19] Between 1982 and 1991 the performance and recording of songs in Kurdish was also banned in Turkey. [8]
Kurdish music refers to music performed in the Kurdish languages and Zaza-Gorani languages. [1] [2] The earliest study of Kurdish music was initiated by the renowned Armenian priest and composer Komitas in 1903, [3] when he published his work " Chansons kurdes transcrites par le pere Komitas" which consisted of twelve Kurdish melodies which he had collected. [4] The Armenian Karapetê Xaço also preserved many traditional Kurdish melodies throughout the 20th century by recording and performing them. [5] In 1909, Scholar Isya Joseph published the work "Yezidi works" in which he documented the musical practice of the Yazidis including the role of the musician-like qewal figures and the instruments used by the minority. [6]
Kurdish music appeared in phonographs in the late 1920s, when music companies in Baghdad began recording songs performed by Kurdish artists. [7]
Despite being secondary to vocals, Kurds use many instruments in traditional music. [8] Musical instruments include the tembûr (see kurdish tanbur), bağlama, qernête, daf, duduk, kaval, long flute (şimşal), [9] kemenche, [10] oboe (zirne) and drum (dahol). [11]
Traditional Kurdish music is culturally distinct from Arabic, Armenian and Turkish music, [12] and mostly composed by people who remained anonymous. [13] Thematically, the music were of melancholic and elegiac character, but has since then incorporated more upbeat and joyous melodies. [14]
Kurdish folklore consists of three genres: the storytellers (çîrokbêj), bards ( dengbêj) and popular singers (stranbêj). [15]
Moreover, there are religious-themed songs (lawje) [16] seasonal musical topics, for example "payizok" that are songs about the return to the summer pastures performed in autumn. [17] Kurdish improvisations are called teqsîm. [18]
In Iraq, tolerance for Kurdish music ceased with the Saddam regime (1979–2003) which put in place restrictions against Kurdish culture. [19] Between 1982 and 1991 the performance and recording of songs in Kurdish was also banned in Turkey. [8]