Medieval Arabic Singing and Emotions; Data Mining The Book of Songs

Abstract

Medieval Arabic philosophers connect certain rhythmic patterns with certain emotions. Computational techniques are used in this thesis to data mine The Book of Songs (Kitāb al-Aghānī) by Abū al-Faraj al-Aṣbahānī, to test such theories. The first part demonstrates the Old Arabic Singing Style, its two scales on the ʿŪd, harmony, and the seven rhythmic patterns. Then the musicological philosophy of al-Kindī, Ikhwān al-Ṣafā, Saʿdya Gaon, and al-Fārābī is discussed. The second part goes through The Book of Songs and gleans examples and citation of historical stories, where the main five emotions, described by al-Kindī and Ikhwān al-Ṣafā, are present. In conclusion a clear connection between human emotions and Medieval Arabic rhythmic patterns is found. Furthermore, this thesis gives clear evidence that Arabs in Hijaz did not sing until 684 AD. This explains why early Islamic sources, such as the Koran, the ḥadīth, and early Islamic scholars, do not discuss the issue of music. The Old Arabic Singing Style started to fall in favour during the Seljuk period and fall in silence around the thirteen century AD. This thesis demonstrates how this Old Style could be reconstructed on the system of Isḥāq al-Mūṣalī, where the songs in The Book of Songs could be sung today.