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CULTURAL HERITAGE / 226 CULTURAL HERITAGE / 227
CULTURAL HERITAGE
Folk Dances and
Music
City of Aleppo presented a decent
experience to the international heritage
of music which no other
city can enjoy in such a way.
Aleppo is the inheritor of two factors.
The first is the development
of Muvasshats and Art of Andalusia
the second is the art originated
from the East particularly
from the Ormia city which is located
in the north-east of Iran.
Aleppo embraced the religious
music of Sufi Hermitages and
Monasteries represented during
the religious ceremonies and developed
the colour of this art. In
this context Al-Hilaliye Hermitage
which is located in the Al-Callum
quarter continues to play a
critical role. This Hermitage was
actually an Islamic Monastery
which was built in 17th century
and contains 40 small rooms in
the prayer section located within
the first two floors. This section is
reserved for the Followers of the
Monastery for their religious duties.
This situation has been continuing
since 1907.
Aleppo was famous for the traditional
music and songs. People of
Aleppo are differentiated with
their love of music and singing.
Music nights are well known in
Aleppo. These Music Nights take
place sometimes in the houses of
the people of Aleppo and sometimes
within the public hammams
of the city. In these music nights
Aleppo musicians play different
traditional Aleppo songs. Also, in
special days certain specific Aleppo
“theatre plays" are also performed.
In addition to these traditional
“Whirl” ceremony is another
cultural value of Aleppo and
is one of the oldest traditions of
the city.
Muvasshats and
Enjoyments
Muvasshats are one of the most
comprehensive song cultures of
the City of Aleppo. Although people
of Aleppo kept this traditional
heritage even after the emergence
of mechanical means of
music during the ceremonies of
the country it is essential to take
measures to preserve this cultural
value of Aleppo. It can be said
that this music style is the only
one that the musicians and artists
are afraid of its disappearance
thus protect because, muvasshats
contain old rhythms.
Aleppo is also famous for their
“Enjoyments”. What is meant by
“Enjoyment” is “texts of poems”
not very different from
Muvasshats. Due to its secondary
class style regarding
the music and its easy
rhythmic structure, it
became more popular
amongst the people.
Some of the most famous
singers of Aleppo
are; Al-Muallim
Bekri AL-KURDI, Al-Hac
Sabri MUDALLIL and Master
Sabah FAHRI.
Handicrafts
The City of Aleppo
differentiated from the
other cities of Syria in terms of
handicrafts. The history of handicrafts
and textile in Aleppo dates
back to 3000 B.C. The French
city of Lyon had acquired many
examples of handicrafts and textile
from Aleppo.
The carpets weaved from pure wool
are well known in Europe and
have been used since 16th century.
There are examples of Syria
carpets in the Victoria and Albert
Museums of London and these are
considered as the best carpets
that are being exhibited.
Jewellery and gold treatment are
also amongst the oldest handicrafts
of Syria. During
the excavations in
Bab Al-Faraj many
gold, silver and jewels
dated back more
than twenty centuries had found.
The museums of Syria are
ornamented with thousand pieces
of historical gold, silver and jewels.
Craftsman of gold and silver
in Aleppo has such a fame that
even the latest technology can
not compete.
Aleppo also contains
the world’s most skilful
craftsmen of tray, glass
and tableware.