نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
نویسندگان
1 گروه موسیقی شناسی، دانشکده موسیقی، دانشگاه هنر کرج/تهران
2 استادیار و عضو هیئت علمی دانشگاه هنر
چکیده
کلیدواژهها
عنوان مقاله [English]
نویسندگان [English]
In the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Arab ethnic population is primarily concentrated in the southwestern region, particularly in the central, western, and southern parts of Khuzestan Province. Among the various Arab communities inhabiting this region, the Marsh Arabs—locally known as the Ma'dan—live in the wetland areas of western Khuzestan, especially in and around the Hoor al-Azim and Shadegan marshes (hor). This community maintains a rich, deeply rooted, and highly localized musical culture that distinguishes it from other Arab groups within the same province. For the Marsh Arabs, music is not merely a form of artistic expression but a central and inseparable component of their ecological, cultural, and social life.
This research primarily aims to explore the environmental and cultural factors that have significantly influenced the formation, evolution, and continued vitality of the Marsh Arabs’ musical identity. The study adopts Jonathan Stock’s ethnomusicological model as a theoretical framework, allowing for a comprehensive and contextual understanding of music. Stock’s approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of music with ecological landscapes, bodily practices, belief systems, and political realities. This holistic model is particularly well-suited for studying how music functions within the broader web of relationships that shape human experience in the marshlands.
The research methodology is qualitative, both descriptive and analytical, and is based on extended ethnographic fieldwork conducted within the Hoor al-Azim and Shadegan wetland areas. A combination of ethnographic methods was utilized, including semi-structured interviews with local musicians, elders, and tradition bearers; participant observation during public gatherings, religious rituals, and everyday social activities; and the systematic collection and analysis of audio-visual recordings. These methods helped capture the lived experiences of the community and offered insight into the role of music within their social and spiritual worlds.
The findings of the research indicate that the wetland environment—with its dense reed beds, changing water levels, and humid subtropical climate—has played a crucial role in shaping the musical practices of the Marsh Arabs. Instruments such as the Motbag (a reed-based wind instrument) and the Tabl (a hand-played drum) are crafted using locally available natural materials, illustrating a deep relationship between environmental resources and musical creation. The rhythms and melodies often echo the sonic patterns of the marshes, with musical structures inspired by the natural sounds and rhythms of the ecosystem.
Ritual dances such as Choubiyeh and Ahchemi serve not only as entertainment but also as powerful vehicles of communal expression, reinforcing social bonds and cultural memory. Vocal traditions like Yeshli, performed during herding or agricultural work, reflect music’s integration into both the economic and emotional aspects of daily life.
A profound feature of this culture is the symbolic and emotional connection between the Marsh Arabs and their water buffaloes. These animals are essential to their livelihoods and are frequently represented in songs, rhythms, and lyrical themes related to survival, mourning, and celebration.
In conclusion, the musical culture of the Marsh Arabs represents a compelling example of how music reflects environment, shapes identity, and sustains collective memory and emotional resilience.
کلیدواژهها [English]