Blog Post 4

When Googoosh sung at the live concert in Malaysia, the Iranian elements of music could be heard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtiTG7Gcb7A

The melody was definitely complex. Some syllables had several different notes sung, many which sound very strange and almost flat or almost sharp at times. I believe she used quarter-tones in this manner, but I do not have perfect pitch.

The basic melody was sung by the crowd at times. This allowed me to understand the basic melody but also contrast it to Googoosh’s voice. During these short periods when the crowd could be heard, she would vary away from the melody with her own improvisation and kick to the song.

The music had heterophony textures. The melody and some instruments played the melody at different times. Googoosh would frequently waver away from the melody, another hint of heterophony texture. Although, there were clear uses of western instruments and homophony textures at infrequent occasions, one can tell this is not a western style of music.

The rhythms seem to be very simple but different between different instruments; which is another aspect of Middle Eastern music. Also, the language that was sung was in Farsi or the Iranian Language.

She has become an iconic figure ever since the Iranian government let her perform and leave the country. Although I am not used to listening to Middle Eastern music, she has a nice quality to her voice. Her style serves as an Art Music type since she is mainly doing this out of her passion for her country and culture.