Music of Palestine

The music of Palestine is a special kind of music that comes from the Palestinian people. It is part of the larger family of Arabic music, which means it uses many of the same instruments and musical styles. However, Palestinian music has its own unique sounds and topics that make it special and different from other kinds of Arabic music.

This music often tells stories about the daily lives, history, and feelings of the Palestinian people. Through songs and melodies, it captures important moments and emotions that are meaningful to those who grow up with this tradition. The music of Palestine is a way for people to share their culture and keep their heritage alive, even when they face many challenges.

Palestinian music uses traditional instruments and vocal styles that have been passed down through generations. It brings communities together during celebrations, ceremonies, and everyday moments, creating a sense of unity and belonging. This rich musical tradition continues to inspire new artists while honoring the past.

Pre-1948

In the lands now part of Israel and Palestine, many different ethnic groups and religions lived together, each with their own rich traditions. The largest group was made up of Arabs, including city and village Muslims, Arab Christians, Druze, and Muslim Bedouin. Other groups included Jews, Samaritans, Circassians, Armenians, and Dom people.

Long ago, Palestinian Arab farmers and nomads sang many different kinds of songs while they worked, such as fishing, shepherding, harvesting, and making olive oil. Special musicians called zajaleen traveled around telling exciting stories. At weddings, people danced to the lively dabke music. Popular songs used many different styles, especially mejana and dal'ona.

Post-1948

See also: Music of Israel § Israeli Arab music

Folk music

After Israel was created in 1948, many Palestinian Arabs moved to refugee camps in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. At that time, famous Arab musicians like Umm Kulthum and Sayed Darwish were very popular. Music centers were in Nazareth and Haifa, where musicians used styles from Cairo and Damascus. New performers began to create music with Palestinian themes, talking about dreams of a country and feelings of unity.

In the 1970s, new Palestinian music stars appeared, such as Sabreen, Mustafa Al-Kurd and Al Ashiqeen. After the First Intifada in 1987, more intense music came from groups like al-Funoun and artists such as Suhail Khoury, Jameel al-Sayih, Thaer Barghouti, and Sabreen.

In the 1990s, after the Palestinian National Authority was created, music began to grow again. Wedding bands returned, playing popular Egyptian and Lebanese songs. Other musicians who appeared later in the 1990s include Yuad, Washem, Mohsen Subhi, Adel Salameh, Issa Boulos, Wissam Joubran, Samir Joubran, and Basel Zayed. The Turab group started in 2004 with the CD Hada Liel.

Today, Reem Kelani is a leading researcher and performer of Palestinian music. Her 2006 album Sprinting Gazelle – Palestinian Songs from the Motherland and the Diaspora includes traditional Palestinian songs and her own settings of famous poems.

Palestinian music often includes wedding songs and dances. Because there are many weddings, these singers keep traditional songs alive while using modern styles. They sing special songs for ceremonies like the henna event, wedding processions, and dances.

Classical music

Before 1948, Palestinians were part of the Arab culture in the Levant, sharing much with Syrian culture. Though popular music was mostly for folk events, serious music began to grow with early composers like Augustin Lama, Yousef Khasho, and Salvador Arnita. Later composers included Patrick Lama, Amin Nasser, and Nasri Fernando Dueri. Newer musicians like Habib Touma and Mounir Anastas also appeared.

The Israeli occupation helped shape a unique Palestinian identity. Despite this, Palestinian classical music kept growing. New composers and performers emerged, and important groups were created, like the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music and the West–Eastern Divan Orchestra, started by Daniel Barenboim and Edward Said. Today, the Palestinian Territories have many orchestras.

Names of Palestinian composers: Salvador Arnita (1914–1985), Daniel Barenboim (born in Buenos Aires, 1942), Habib Hasan Touma (born in Nazareth, 1934, died in Berlin 1998), Nasri Fernando Dueri (born 1932), François Nicodeme (born in Jerusalem 1935) and his brother William Nicodeme, Amin Nasser in Ramleh 1935, Patrick Lama, Abdel-Hamid Hamam, Saleem Zoughbi.

War songs

Palestinian war songs often talk about standing up against the occupation of their land, calling for Palestinians to stay and fight, and remembering important events in their history.

Music and identity

Palestinian music tells the story of the Palestinian people. Many songs talk about life under difficult times, hoping for peace, and loving their homeland. One well-known song is Baladi, Baladi (My Country, My Country), which many see as a national anthem. It sings about always coming back to Palestine.

Another popular song is "Zareef et Tool." It encourages people to stay in their homeland rather than leave. In 2013, Mohammad Assaf won a big music competition called Arab Idol. His song "Ana Dame falasteenee" (My Blood is Palestinian) became loved by many around the world. He became one of the most successful Palestinian musicians ever.

Forms of traditional Palestinian songs

Traditional Palestinian songs have rhythms instead of set lyrics. Singers, often family or friends, create the words as they sing. Even today, these songs are popular at events like weddings.

Some common types include Ataaba, the most popular form, often sung by farmers and workers but mainly at weddings. Dal'ona is another favorite, matching the rhythm of the dabka dance. Sahja is sung at weddings by both men and women, with clapping and repeating verses. Zaghareet, one of the oldest forms, is sung by women at weddings and important events, starting with a special call and including poetic words.

Palestinian hip hop

Main article: Palestinian hip hop

In the late 1990s, young Palestinians created a new style of music called Palestinian rap or hip hop. This music mixes Arabic tunes with Western rhythms, and the words are sung in Arabic, English, and sometimes Hebrew.

The group DAM was among the first to make this kind of music. As Arab citizens of Israel, they sing in Arabic, Hebrew, and English, often talking about breaking down wrong ideas about Palestinians and Arabs in songs like "Meen Erhabe?" ("Who's a terrorist?")

Another interesting group from the West Bank is Ramallah Underground, made by two brothers named Boikutt and Stormtrap. Their music combines hip hop, trip hop, and slow music with traditional Arab sounds. Many rappers speak up for Palestinian pride, like Ortega (Alhasan), whose songs caused a big reaction in Israeli media in 2012 because of their strong feelings toward Israel. Ortega is especially popular in the Persian Gulf area because he was born in the United Arab Emirates.

Far away from Palestine, the Abu-Ghaben brothers started Jaffa Phonix in Cairo, Egypt. They mix big-beat, hip hop, and punk styles in their music.

Opposition to music

Some people in Palestine worried about music because some strict religious leaders thought it was not allowed. In 2005, a music and dance show in Qalqiliya was stopped by local leaders who said it went against their beliefs. They also said music could not be played in a zoo there.

A famous poet from Palestine said this was a worrying sign, like something that happened in other places. Another writer from Ramallah was concerned that artists might leave if these strict rules continued.

Musicians and instruments from Palestine, anno 1860

Here are some musicians and instruments from Palestine in the year 1860.

A Palestinian Oud player.

A Palestinian Kamanjah player.

Musicians in Jerusalem, late 19th century.