Thread: Within Baladi..?

Reading up on Baladi I've read various definitions such a Mawal and Shaabi, Saidi and Ghawazi.

I've researched mawal with difficulty!?

Shaabi as i understand concerns a style of music and dance which relates to the Ghetto of Egypt?

Saidi pertains to the style of music and dance of upper Egypt, and concerns cane dancing?

and Ghawazi a form of Gypsy dance and music who considered themselves seperate from the Egyptians, and apparently not very reputable, with quite specific style of their own?

You did a great research! ,r:;

Mawaal is the vocalist's sort-of improvised solo, usually at the beginning of a piece of music. After the mawal the instruments and rhythm usually kick in and the tempo pics up. Tahtil Shibbak usually has a mawal at the beginning.

Saidi dancing may or may not use a cane. I just recently finished my article on Saidi dancing, with or without cane, with lots of video clips. It's at Belly Dance Stuff: Styles -- Egyptian Saidi and Raks Assaya

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Mawaal is the vocalist's sort-of improvised solo, usually at the beginning of a piece of music. After the mawal the instruments and rhythm usually kick in and the tempo pics up. Tahtil Shibbak usually has a mawal at the beginning.

Saidi dancing may or may not use a cane. I just recently finished my article on Saidi dancing, with or without cane, with lots of video clips. It's at Belly Dance Stuff: Styles -- Egyptian Saidi and Raks Assaya

thankyou for the info and the link!

Wow LAuren, what a great article! Thanks!

Lauren,your website and Candi´s are fantastic<3

Originally Posted by ababalond

Shaabi as i understand concerns a style of music and dance which relates to the Ghetto of Egypt?

Hi there,on my dance schools web site shaabi was described in "ghetto" terms from the teacher before me.

I made them take it down and replace it with a translation of what shaabi means instead.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Mawaal is the vocalist's sort-of improvised solo, usually at the beginning of a piece of music. After the mawal the instruments and rhythm usually kick in and the tempo pics up. Tahtil Shibbak usually has a mawal at the beginning.

Saidi dancing may or may not use a cane. I just recently finished my article on Saidi dancing, with or without cane, with lots of video clips. It's at Belly Dance Stuff: Styles -- Egyptian Saidi and Raks Assaya

Dear Lauren, thanks for sharing this wonderful information with us!
How are you doing? We missed you!

"Mawal" (also "mawwal" or "mawaal") is a traditional vocal improvisation typically occurring at the beginning of a song or after the overture of a longer composition. It serves the same purpose for a singer as the taqsim serves for a musician--it shows off their musical prowess and helps to establish the intensity and mood of the subsequent music. The melody consists of ornamented notes within a particular maqam or a transitioning series of maqamat relating to the main song. The words may be poetic lyrics that go on for many measures, phrases ("Ya leili, ya leili, ya leil..."), simple vocalizations ("oh..." or "ah..."), or a combination of those things. Mawal singing is not limited to Egyptian music. There are more detailed definitions of Arabic musical terminology here: Arabic Musical Forms

"Ghawazee" refers to a group of people within Egypt of Rom descent who were essentially a "performing caste." They have mostly disappeared into the fabric of Egyptian culture and no longer function the way they once did, for a long list of social and political reasons. Probably the most famous group is the Mazin family, who are one of the few still keeping the older traditions alive. If you search the site gildedserpent.com for "Banat Mazin," they'll have lots of articles on the subject.

I have a longer discussion of "Saidi" vs. "baladi" vs. "sha'abi" that I'll PM you, rather than run it across multiple posts. If anyone else wants to read it, let me know.

Originally Posted by Tourbeau

I have a longer discussion of "Saidi" vs. "baladi" vs. "sha'abi" that I'll PM you, rather than run it across multiple posts. If anyone else wants to read it, let me know.

I'd love to read it, Tourbeau. If you don't mind, could you send it to makedamaysa at gmail dot com. Thanks!

T, you should just start a thread here and post your discussion there....

Originally Posted by ANA_bellydancer

Dear Lauren, thanks for sharing this wonderful information with us!
How are you doing? We missed you!

I am GREAT!! Thanks for asking. I had the BEST time in Barcelona and Morocco, then came home and had only a week to move into my new studio. Just moved today, in fact. Busy, busy but oh, so happy!

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I am GREAT!! Thanks for asking. I had the BEST time in Barcelona and Morocco, then came home and had only a week to move into my new studio. Just moved today, in fact. Busy, busy but oh, so happy!

Oh, great! You must start a thread about that traveling experience!