The Influence of Music in Syria

All around the world, music has always been a means of expressing a variety of subjects ranging from political to religious beliefs, trials to triumphs, or love to loss. With the war in Syria causing thousands to leave their homelands, Syrian refugees have used music to communicate their grief, sadness, and yearning. The article "Songs of the Syrian refugees" by Alexandra Petropoulos writes about the music of Abu Abdullah and Mohamad Isa Almaziodi in particular. Abdullah plays the oud while Almaziodi sings, and the duo's songs are both haunting and beautiful. I was fascinated just watching the oud play. Almaziodi's singing is also very captivating. The vocal ornamentation aids the lyrics in expressing the sorrow of the refugees. It is pretty moving that music is their way of holding on to their culture in a place where they have little rights. Their music expresses the hope that they will someday return to their beloved homeland.

On the other hand, music can also be used deceptively, like jihadi music. They use beautiful, catchy melodies and arrangements to draw in their audience despite of the horrific lyrics. It is all too easy to get a catchy tune stuck in one's head no matter how disagreeable the words are to the listener. Why do we teach children to spin around in a circle singing "Ring around a rosy. A pocket full of posy. Ashes, ashes we all fall down?" That just so happens to be about the plague. Many other lullabyes do the same. While I have not seen any of the ISIS videos, the concept is still terrifying. They are using music to help display their beliefs, motives, and messages in a way that viewers will not easily forget.