The first great culture that infuses music and dance in its society is of Egypt.
No celebration in Egypt is complete without the magic of music and dance. Whether
it is occasion of festivals or marriages or other celebrations, every occasion
is marked and full of the vibrant rhythm of music and dance.
Ancient Egyptian music was based on the scale of five full tones without halftones.
It was only during the New Kingdom period that the Egyptian music showed changes
in use of musical instruments and the sound qualities and it was only due to
the influence of foreign culture.
The Egyptians used a wide variety of musical instruments in ancient period,
which were broadly classified into four classes. One was the "idiophones"
that includes clappers, sistra, cymbals and bells. Second were the "membranaphones",
which includes tambourines and drums. The third group was of "aerophones"
that included flute, double clarinets, trumphets, double oboes and bugles. And
the last one was of "chordophones" that consisted of harp, lute and
the lyre instruments.
Dance was an enjoyable pastime in Ancient Egypt. However the act of dancing
was an important custom of rituals and celebrations in Egypt. Dance troupes
were available to perform at gatherings and celebrations. However no well-born
Egyptian would consider dancing in public.
Mixed gender pair dancing act was unknown in ancient Egypt. Nubian tradition
influenced the Egyptian dance form the most. Paintings on the walls of the tombs
clearly showed ritual dances performed by the muu group (men wearing crowns
of reeds). Dances in Pharaonic times were merely of religious or semi-religious
nature. The importance of dance in Egypt social and religious life can be easily
noticeable by the example of festival dedicated to Apis.
The act of dance and music are inseparable sides of the same coin. One is incomplete
without the other and in the rich culture of Egypt it is worth mentioning. Rhythms
and the movement of body on the music and the musical instruments of ancient
Egypt were totally different from the present oriental music and dance form.
Oriental music is the music from the east and was introduced by the Ottoman
Empire in Egypt. At present mixtures of folk and pop is the most popular music
of Egypt. Performers of Egypt are trying to keep the folk and traditional music
and dance of Egypt alive in the 20th century also.
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