GHAZAL

The word ghazal means rhymes while singing which is accompanied by musical instruments and the rhymes used has certain form.

Middle East

Iran

Iraq

Turkey

Countries
Active in
Ghazal

Pakistan

Ghazal
variations
in Malaysia

Malaysia

Northern
India

Arab Ghazal

Johor Ghazal

Northern India

Praises upon
Prophet
Muhammad

Song lyric:
Arabic
language

Islamic
Teachings

Directly from
Middle East

Theme
Resembles the
west marching
band and
orchestra

Alternately being
added with
Middle East
dance
performances
like belly dance
in some
countries
especially during
romantic song

Musicians and
performances
requirements

Arab
Ghazal
Musicians
dress in Arab
style

Musicians seats
on chairs &
singer facing the
audience

Mostly in
Kedah,
Some in
Johor

Instruments

Beats

West
rumba
samba
tango

Native
Middle
East
Songs

Middle East
masri
sara
zapin

West Influence
Violin,
Accordian,
Guitar, Double
Bass, Drum,
Flute, Bell, Celo,
Maracas,
Tambourine

Most
important
Gambus

Song
lyric:
Urdu
language

Founded by Haji Musa

bin Yusoff or known as
Pak Lomak or Mejar
Lomak

Social
issues

Hindustan melody

Through
Northern
India

Theme

The
beauties
in
nature

Ghazal Asli
e.g Sri Mersing

Jawa
Rhythm &
Songs
Hindustan/ Dangdut
e.g Penawar Rindu

Johor
Ghazal
Joget from
Portugis

Arab/Middle East
Inang/masri
Zapin

Instruments

Modification to suits
Johorean / Ghazal Melayu
Gambus Melayu
Small shape & made of
animal skin on the body
face
Tambourine replaces bell
Harmonium, Tabla, Guitar,
Violin
Additional instruments:
Flute, mandolin, marakas
maruwas, rebana, tambor

Instruments in Northern India

The first instruments
introduced:
Harmonium
Tabla
Bell
Other instruments:
Sitar, ghazal, gambus, biola
& etc.

1) Harmonium
a) An instrument that play melody or song.
b) Asli way of playing harmonium
the harmonium player plays the melody to accompany his/her singing or to accompany other singer.
c) The way to play it is that, one hand is used to play the melody and the other to pump the air into the harmonium.

2) Biola (Violin)
a) To be played along with harmonium but not many ornamentation.
b) Sometimes at interlude, in between rhymes, violin might be the only instrument to play melody.
c) String 1___________________________________D (the thinnest)
String 2___________________________________G
String 3___________________________________C
String 4___________________________________F (the thickest)

3) Gambus (Oud)
a) Instrument for melody which can also add some ornamentation as accompaniment
b) To be used as solo instrument at beginning of the song or interlude
c) There are two kind of gambus used in Malaysia; gambus Melayu has small shape & made of animal skin on the body face
and original instrument from Middle East
d) Safety and Precaution (animal skin)(this also applied to tabla)
i) Keep in room temperature
ii) Avoid storing in moist condition

e) All string is paired except the 6th string which totals 11 strings.
f) String 1___________________________________Bb (the thinnest)
String 2___________________________________F
String 3___________________________________C
String 4___________________________________G
String 5___________________________________D
String 6___________________________________A (the thickest) (single string)

4) Guitar
a) This instrument is paired with gambus and has the similar function.
b) Sometimes guitar are used to accompany songs and play chords.
c) String 1___________________________________D (the thinnest)
String 2___________________________________A
String 3___________________________________F
String 4___________________________________C
String 5___________________________________G
String 6___________________________________F (the thickest)

5) Tabla
a) Originated from India. It is made as two parts.
Size\Country

i)

India

ii)

Indonesia

iii)

Small

chalte

dang

dhin

Big

daga

dut

Bam

Malaysia

There are few Ghazal group in Malaysia.

Seri PenambangMuar

Seri Maharani..Muar (founded in the 40s)

Seri PemudaMuar

Seri KenanganMuar

Seri Banang.Batu Pahat

The first song introduced by Mejar Lomak is Sri Mersing. Sri Mersing has two verses of rhymes. The singer of ghazal asli sings in
high pitch not relaxed pitch. In the song there are char, verse, chorus, and bridge.

Bridge is played before the verses, after char and after chorus.

Char is usually played at the beginning and the ending of the song

Char is played in inang dangdut rhythm

Sometimes char is played in the middle of the song.

Tafsin is the melody played without tempo and rhythm.

Maracas controls tempo in Ghazal music arrangement.