CLIP 6629
Making music in Iraq
Key Info
- Making music in Iraq
- Duration: 02:04
- Iraq's sectarian violence has prevented most musicians, particularly women, from performing in public. Hazar Bassam was one of the few who continued to play and study in secret throughout the troubles. Her music institute in Baghdad was set on fire and looted after the US-led invasion, but has now been restored and is thriving again. The musicians gather in the institute's courtyard to perform Iraqi love songs. Hazar Bassam plays the Jozan, an instrument made from a coconut shell. She describes the political context in which their music is made and believes musicians have a part to play in fighting for their country using music. In 2006 and 2007, the students had to play in secret and hide their instruments in plastic bags on the way to school for fear of violent attack. Now they are confident enough to perform their ballads openly. This clip was first published on BBC News Online on 16 March 2009. Please note this clip is only available in Flash.
- Subject:
Music
Topic:Music in Context
- Keywords: tradition, folk music, Middle East, Arabic, culture, ballads, singing
Ideas for use in class
- Supports study of different types of music across time and place (styles), music for different purposes (genres) and ways of working and producing music which may reflect a specific cultural or social function (traditions).
Background details
- Clip language : English
- Aspect ratio : 16x9
Video options
- Location of Flash Video clip:
bbc.co.uk navigation
BBC links
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