Thread: I had an AHA moment during class

So during class tonight, we were reviewing 1 and a half beledis. I never knew why they were called that and what the difference was between that and other beledis. Turned out I wasn't the only one, so our teacher spent some time explaining it. Afterwards, I was like OOOOOOH, I get it now. LOL. Here is the funny thing, once she explained it, I realized I have like 5-6 songs of that type of beledi on my ipod and I just didn't realize it. DOH! But I so love learning something knew. I would love to hear everyone else's AHA moments that they may have had.

One and a half beledis?

Glad you asked...'fraid I was gonna sound ignorant!

Me too. I have no idea what this means. Give us an "AHA" moment, KDizzle!

Same question here...and if possible could you list song titles/artists so we can consult our iPods to listen to the difference between the two please?

Geez....we don't ask for a lot on bhuz do we? :)

Me five. At first I thought you were talking about a move, but you're referring to a rhythm, yes?

It is a rythmn, it is a beledi rhythm that starts out with a heavy accent on the 1 and 5 (in an eight count), which also can play throughout the song and it is an improvisational beledi and ends with fast music. I'm at work now, so I won't be able to upload any samples but my teacher says that they usually don't have names per say but are name by the taxim instrument. The one we listened too yesterday was called taxim accoridian. I will see if I can find a sample online while I am at work that I can upload.

Okay found one similar to one I have on my ipod

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKfdByGm3kc"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKfdByGm3kc[/ame]

Originally Posted by KDizzle

It is a rythmn, it is a beledi rhythm that starts out with a heavy accent on the 1 and 5 (in an eight count), which also can play throughout the song and it is an improvisational beledi and ends with fast music. I'm at work now, so I won't be able to upload any samples but my teacher says that they usually don't have names per say but are name by the taxim instrument. The one we listened too yesterday was called taxim accoridian. I will see if I can find a sample online while I am at work that I can upload.

Okay found one similar to one I have on my ipod

YouTube - Rania dancing to accordion beledi

Okay, I'm at work, so I just sort of skipped around in the video. It's what I recognize as a baladi taxim. However, I didn't hear the rhythm you describe (which sounds like it could be a masmoudi kabir). I did hear a Saidi, though.

Sort of sounds like your instructor is referring to a class of rhythms as beledi, or country, or rhythms-of-the-people, which would include masmoudi seghir (often called beledi), masmoudi kabir, Saidi, masqsum, fellahi, even ayoub?

Um, in that clip I hear the accordion taxim with no drum, then the accordion with some drum accents. Then I hear Saidi rhythm (Dum Tek Dum Dum Tek), which starts at medium tempo and speeds up into Maksoum (Dum Tek Tek Dum Tek). Saidi and Maksoum are often used interchangeably in Egyptian music.

Don't know what is a beledi and a half.

I believe the Arabic term for this rhythm is "wahda wa noss", i.e. one and a half.


Edited to add: Wahda wa noss is also known as maqsoum. But now that I've viewed the clip above, I hear a masmoudi kebir at 1:45. Is this the rhythm you are referring to?


Khalida

Originally Posted by khalida777

I believe the Arabic term for this rhythm is "wahda wa noss", i.e. one and a half.


Khalida

From Keti Sharif's website: wahda wa noss - Arabic rhythm with two distinct parts meaning 'one and a half' used in Egyptian baladi dance

Can you explain it in terms of Dums and Teks?

Found this on another website:

4/4 Rhythm: Maqsum/Maksoum or Wahda Wa Noss


1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

dum tek tek dum tek



This rhythm is upbeat.The simple Maqsum is the basis of many rhythms

and is especially important in modern and folk Egyptian rhythm.

If you listen to Middle Eastern percussion accompanying music

you will often hear the distinctive [DT-TD-T-] of the Maqsum.

In parts of the Mahgreb (e.g. Tunisia) this family of rhythms may be called "Duyek".

1-+-2-+-3-+-4-+-|

D-T-__T-D-__T-__| [MIDI]basic form

D-T-kkT-D-kkT-kk| [MIDI]filled

D-S-tkS-D-tkS-tk| [MIDI]accented

From: Jas's-- Middle Eastern Rhythms FAQ (for dumbec, doumbec, doumbek, arabic tabla, darabuka, tombak, zarb ...) : Rhythms for Dumbek and Belly Dance You will need to scroll down the page

Originally Posted by khalida777

I believe the Arabic term for this rhythm is "wahda wa noss", i.e. one and a half.


Khalida

Yes my teacher said that too, I just didn't know how to spell it out.

Also I couldn't find a video showing the rhythm without the taxim the beledi starts at 1:25 minutes into the video

Hmmm, to me it sounds like masmoudi/masmoudi kebir, ("big masmoudi", eight beats) rather than maqsoum/wahda wa noss.


Khalida

Originally Posted by khalida777

Hmmm, to me it sounds like masmoudi/masmoudi kebir, ("big masmoudi", eight beats) rather than maqsoum/wahda wa noss.


Khalida

Okay, I will see if I can find one that is closer, I can't upload from my itunes from here

KDizzle, I would recommend asking your teacher to clarify what she means by the word "beledi." It sounds like she could be talking about either a rhythm, a musical style, or a dance style.

The rhythm you are describing sounds like it could be either wahda wa noss or masmoudi kabir, as others have pointed out. Those rhythms are not exclusively associated with beledi style music.

If by "beledi" your instructor is talking about beledi taqasim, that's a very specific musical style. The YouTube clip you posted is a beledi taqsim, but the dancing in it is not very beledi style.

Nisaa

Yes...she is rather "active" isnt she?

It is a rhythm that I am talking about, I posted the video for the rhythm not for the dancing (I don't think Rania is very good). The rhythm is called one and a half beledi/wahda wa noss. I am just having a hard time find an example online since I can't get to my itunes from work to show the example. VERY frustrating!

Originally Posted by KDizzle

It is a rhythm that I am talking about, I posted the video for the rhythm not for the dancing (I don't think Rania is very good). The rhythm is called one and a half beledi/wahda wa noss. I am just having a hard time find an example online since I can't get to my itunes from work to show the example. VERY frustrating!

I'd avoid calling it one and a half beledi...I've never heard it called that before. "Beledi" just has so many very specific stylistic/cultural associations...

I have heard it called that a lot! But never knew what the heck people were talking about. I will start calling it Wahda wa noss though just to keep it simple.

Wow..that is her isnt it? I wonder if that is an older clip, cause I have seen her do much better dancing.

I wonder if your teacher is using that term because the rhythm is in the "Beledi" family of rhythms?

Originally Posted by anala

Wow..that is her isnt it? I wonder if that is an older clip, cause I have seen her do much better dancing.

I wonder if your teacher is using that term because the rhythm is in the "Beledi" family of rhythms?

ERG...it's in the wahda family, but I would be really hesitant to call that "beledi" family...it starts to conflate the rhythm with a style, and to me that's risky, because the wahda rhythms are used in classical, folklore, you name it...

I stand corrected... ;-) Is there a good site that groups them together in their respective families?

Yes, I think so, since it is part of that "family" of rhythms.

Not to go off topic, but I sooooo wish I had a aha moment on keeping a dominant hand when zilling. I use both hands almost evenly (using the right hand a little more). I think I use to be a lefty who switched to righty. I eat with my left but write with my right. So I tend to have a problem keeping a dominant hand while zilling. (I tend to switch back and forth, so I can't do a 9/8 rhythm at all because of it) If I can finally conquer that, I would be so freaking happy.

Originally Posted by anala

I stand corrected... ;-)

Oh, I don't mean to be so anal! It's just that when terminology gets confused, well, things get confusing...

Anal is my name!!! With an xtra A!

Not sure if there's a site out there that groups rhythms by families (I don't think Jas's site does that...or does it?) ...but this site has rhythms by time signature (though they classify some rhythms in ways that don't always make sense to me, but that's probably just me).

Arabic Rhythms

oh wow! Really cool site! Totally makes me realize with as many songs I have on my ipod there are still soooooo many to learn.

That performance is from Rania's new fitness dvds. I don't know if the instructional part is repackaged from older dvds, but as far as I've seen, these are new performances.

oh my....