Classical Arabic Music
Region/Countries: Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, North Africa, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria
Classical Arabic Music spans 1930s–present across Egypt, Lebanon, Syria. It foregrounds improvisation (taqsim/layali), emotive delivery, orchestral backing. Rhythms include samai, wahda and borrow from maqsoum. Ensembles center on oud, qanun, violin. Influences include Egyptian film music, Ottoman classical. Lyrics are ≈95% Arabic.