With both a Bedouin and a maritime heritage, Qatar's music and dance are shaped by the elements of Bedouin life, sailing, and pearling. This article explores those features.
Introduction
Qatar's culture is rooted in Bedouin poetry, song, and dance. However, because relatively few archives exist on the subject, the original development and purpose of this cultural tradition have not been thoroughly documented. The music and its various forms of presentation and performance no longer exist in their original contexts in the Gulf region, but have been performed in a range of settings in order to keep that connection alive. The two central themes of the region — the sea and the Bedouins — are reflected in the rhythms of the music.
Qatar's Traditional Dances
The ardha, the razeef, and the fishermen's dances are Qatar's traditional dances. The ardha is originally a war dance but is said to have evolved into a dance of peace in more recent times. It represents the majority of folkloric dancing performed at national events, celebrations, and weddings in Qatar. The ardha refers to two lines of men chanting to or at each other in a competitive or challenging manner, with the razeef being the dancing element that accompanies or follows it.
As the Bedouins moved across the Qatari peninsula, making the most of seasonal opportunities, the surrounding seas were the backdrop for trading, fishing, and pearling. These elements formed part of an art tradition unique to the people of the Gulf, particularly among the Arab tribes that migrated from the Najd region.
Maritime themes, as in many parts of the world, were tied to the loading and unloading of cargo, captured in one particular type of song or chant. At sea, sailors sang chants timed to the raising of sails, hauling ropes in unison, lifting a heavy anchor, or rowing over long stretches. The experience of spending extended periods at sea, and the effect this had on both sailors and their families, also became the subject of maritime songs. As a result, the chants they sang carried themes of love, patience, and fate.
The Ardha
The significance of the ardha goes far beyond a simple dance. The occasions on which it is performed are social gatherings whose roots lie in the tribal societies that settled across the Arabian Peninsula and its hinterland. These gatherings serve a number of purposes: political, strategic, social, and celebratory. When tribes come together to demonstrate loyalty, the razeef is performed as a prominent and highly visible part of the event.
The ardha may be held primarily to express unity and allegiance in a traditional, political context. It can also serve as a formal or informal gathering where family matters are discussed, including marriages.
At its core a war dance, performers in the ardha can be seen wearing bandoliers and carrying weapons of various ages, or swords, in a display of martial strength and loyalty to the ruler — a show of respect for both the leader and the country. Two lines of men stand facing one another, responding in chant to a single leader who guides them through an eight-bar refrain. Between verses, the men present their weapons in a slow, individual display. The call and response between the two lines can be powerful, but also humorous or deliberately provocative toward their rivals.
The drums are the most important element of the ardha, since there is no melody to carry the performance — rhythm alone drives the pace of the dancers, who move their whole bodies in time with the beat. In the fishing and pearling traditions of Gulf music, percussion plays a central role. Clapping, which produces a sharp, dry sound, is also part of both the ardha and the razeef.
While it is the men of the tribe who dance and sing in the ardha, there are dances in which women take part, though in more enclosed settings. The most common of these are the na'ashat and the radha. The former is characterised by women sweeping their hair rhythmically to the beat of the music and is common in badu traditions. The latter is a processional performance associated with weddings.
The Modern Face of Traditional Music
Qatar's music is rooted in Arabic song and has been influenced over the past thirty years by the arts of the wider Gulf region. Most Qataris enjoy listening to Khaliji (Gulf) music in the style of traditional Bedouin music, accompanied by a variety of percussion instruments, including the al-ras (a large drum whose leather is heated over an open fire), tambourine, cymbals, and smaller drums.
Other instruments played in Qatar include the ud and rebaba, both string instruments, as well as the Arabian flute. This music dominates the airwaves in the capital Doha, though younger generations also listen to and play music from Egypt, Lebanon, and other parts of the Arab world, as well as from Europe and North America.
Qatar has a number of organisations that support and promote music across the country. The Qatari Gulf Folklore Center teaches Qatari folk music. In 2005, the Doha Community Orchestra established a full symphony orchestra, holding concerts and rehearsals at The American School of Doha. Doha Jazz has also become part of Qatar's music scene, with the Doha Jazz Festival recognised as a high-quality event offering world-class performances. The Qatar Music Academy, developed through Qatar Foundation centres, provides music education throughout the country and fosters a vibrant environment of creative inspiration.
