Music in Syrians daily lives

Music history goes back in Syria to 3000 BC, where many archaeological excavations show evidence confirming that the country had a very rich musical heritage that has persisted for thousands of years.

The excavations vary between the world’s first musical score, sculptures for music gods like the singer of Ornina temple, who is believed to be one of the oldest singers. Also, excavations show musical bands comprised of a conductor and players on different instruments. All of these discoveries make the archaeologists believe that Syria could be the land of the first world songs, and that this land has an extraordinarily rich culture of music.

With this very old history, music and songs still have a very crucial role in the everyday lives of people who live in this area. These interactions are not limited to social occasions that music is usually a part of, like weddings and festivals. It is also involved in other daily activities, like working inside and outside the house, and so is an essential part of life in many Syrian areas.

Northeast Syria is considered one of the most diverse areas, in terms of religion and ethnicity. Ashourians, Kaldans, Syriacs, Kurds, and Armenians have been living in this area for hundreds of years and have many daily habits that incorporate music and songs with different rhythms.

One of those traditions that goes back hundreds of years is making gee, where the Ashourian women put yogurt in a leather bag and start moving the bag consistently in a steady rhythm, all while singing a song called Gudi, and if family or neighbors are around they will join the ladies to have something like a tiny musical concert.

In a similar way, when preparing spelt and boiling it, tens of people gather around huge boil pots that might have up to 300 kgs (660 pounds) and while waiting for the process to finish, which might take 3 hours, the crowd sings and dances (mainly Dabke) with the accompaniment of Bozoq or Tanbour players. The boil pots and cooking tools turn into rhythm instruments and join the band. Different songs are used in this tradition: Dlaliyeh in Arabic, Bagyeh in Ashourian, Hano Hano in Syriec, Ayshaneh or Zaravieh in Kurdish and Narek Ninarek Nina in Armenian.

The harvest times, maybe as everywhere else in the world, are of the most important times for the people living in that area. Decades ago, when the harvest was done manually, harvesters used to line up before a leader who organizes the work between the group using music and songs. For the start, he gives a special move with his hand and body and starts singing and dancing, mainly using a special rhythm named Jorjieneh, and the harvesters, whom can be a group of 50, follow him on the same rhythm and work for hours and hours without feeling tired or getting bored. Even today, the harvest songs are still some of the most popular pieces of music at festivals and weddings.

If we go to the south of Syria to Daraa and Sweida, we find different rituals but of the same idea.

There, Mansaf is the most famous meal served at many kinds of events. It is made of meat and Bulgur of Rice, and usually served to large numbers of people. The process of making this meal is accompanied with music and songs that reflect different things. The generosity of the one who is giving the meal is one of the topics, especially when he is giving large amounts of meat and ghee. Some other songs will describe the meal and how greatly it is made to encourage the guests to eat with a great appetite and finish all the food served. In Daraa, there is a very similar song describing the food, which is also known in neighbouring countries: Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon, where many of the other rituals can be similar.