Music

Percussion plays an important part in all Qatari music. A favourite of the pearl fishermen was the galahs, a tall clay jar which was used to create bass and treble notes. Tus or tasat were tin drinking cups, used alongside the tabl, a longitudinal drum with skins at either end, beaten with a short stick. Modern performances often include the tar, a large tambourine-style instrument, commonly seen at weddings and other celebrations. Many modern songs feature percussion and strings, including a form of the oud, an instrument not far removed from the lute. The short rhythm- cycle labuni is characteristic of Qatar’s desert music, whilst the hammari folk songs have both desert and coastal versions. For hundreds of years, Qatar’s heritage was handed down by word of mouth, from parent to child. Songs and poetry played an important part in everyday life, and story tellers honed their craft sitting round the camp fires at night.