Rhythm of the Week: Maqsoum

Maqsoum ( 4/4 Timing)


Drumming:   D T | t k T | D t k | T t k


Zilling: R R | RLR | R RL | R RL


____________


From http://wwww.maya.com/local/senn/handout.html


Maqsoum (4/4)
Maqsoum (which means, "cut in half") is really a whole class of rhythms that fit in a 4 beat measure. The maqsoum is quite basic to Middle Eastern rhythm; maqsoums, and 8 beat measures formed by concatenating a maqsoum with another 4 beat measure, form a rhythmic basis for much Middle Eastern music. This version is a simple and very basic version.

1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +   |
--------------------------------|
D   T       T   D       T       | basic
D   T   t k T   D   t k T   t k |  filled in

Adventures with Veils

Review: Belly Dance with Veil by Sarah Skinner .

I admit it.  I've never been a big fan of veil dancing.  I think it was my introduction to it.  When I first started dancing and saw veil work, it consisted mostly of the dancer wrapping and unwrapping herself in the veil while she danced.  In the end, it seemed an odd mix of Oriental fantasy and quasi-stripping.  When I later read that Egyptian dancers do little with the veil, other than carrying it while entering, for those very reasons, I tossed my old veil into the corner and relegated it to a cover-up.

But then along came Petite Jamilla and her fast and furious spinning veils.  She completely changed my perspective on what can be done with the veils.  When my friend Lana, a wonderfully talented dancer, also began working with the veil, I was amazed by the amount of beauty and drama a veil can add.   I decided it was time for me to rethink my old views.

And so, I ordered an inexpensive silk veil from Dharma Trading Company and decided to learn how to use it.

Since I enjoy working with DVDs at home, I went searching for one.  My criteria were simple: lots of moves for a little price.  Sarah Skinner's DVD looked like it would offer the most bang for my buck, and I was not disappointed.

Sarah's DVD was just what I was looking for.  She has a brief introduction, demonstrating types of fabrics, discussing the qualities of different sizes, and giving some tips on finishing the edges of your veil (Specifically, she leaves the raw edges of her silk veils unfinished to avoid the weight of a finished seam.  I do notice that the veil I have, with hand-rolled edges, doesn't get quite the air of her silk veils).  The veil work section is divided up into Veil Wraps, Turns, Switches, Cascades, and Traveling Steps.  There are  several moves in each category, and, after demonstrating a handful, Sarah then combines them into small combinations for you to follow and practice.  She also includes a section on ending your veil work, handling mishaps, and then has a simple but lengthy choreography.

In the end, the moves are fairly simple to follow, but the sheer variety of moves covered is impressive.  Many of them I had seen before, but were not sure how to execute, and some are completely new to me.  I even enjoyed the section on wraps. With some slight modifications, I can envision myself using them.  I think this will keep me busy for some time.

The production quality is quite good, as are all the World Dance New York DVDs that I have.  Sarah is facing the camera the whole time and so, during some of the choreography and wraps, it was a bit of a mental game for me to keep straight which side I was on (For the bulk of the DVD, the moves are balanced on both sides, so it was not an issue).  The music is traditional and lovely.  In the end, I am quite pleased to have added this DVD to my collection.