In a historic step aimed at protecting and documenting the rich Arab musical heritage, the Arab Music Conference, hosted by the Saudi capital Riyadh, concluded its proceedings, issuing a set of pivotal recommendations that will shape the future of music in the region. The most prominent of these recommendations was the call to establish a comprehensive and reliable scientific reference and digital system for Arab maqams, rhythms, and musical instruments, to serve as a beacon for researchers, artists, and future generations.
Historical context and future vision
This conference is being held at a time when the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is undergoing a broad cultural and social transformation under the umbrella of Vision 2030, which places great importance on arts and culture as an essential part of national identity and a driver of development. This conference builds upon and updates the historical efforts that began with the first Congress of Arab Music in Cairo in 1932, which laid the foundations for documenting this art form. However, the Riyadh conference is launched with a modern vision, leveraging advanced digital technologies to create a dynamic and interactive archive that transcends the limitations of paper-based documentation and makes it accessible to the entire world.
Strategic recommendations for the future of Arabic music
His Excellency Turki bin Abdulmohsen Al-Sheikh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), explained that the idea for the conference arose in response to the pressing need in the artistic and research fields to unify efforts. He emphasized that the goal was to produce practical results that would benefit researchers and preserve heritage. The conference's final recommendations, which came after eight months of diligent work by specialized committees from across the Arab world, included the following:
- Creating a documented Arabic reference: Implementing a comprehensive project to document maqams, rhythms, and musical instruments with a precise scientific methodology, including notation, analysis, and field surveys, while preserving oral heritage and re-recording rare melodic models.
- Establishing an integrated digital system: launching open electronic libraries, interactive educational platforms and smart applications, providing easy access to high-quality written, audio and visual content.
- Launch of a Higher Arab Academy: Establishing the first research and educational institution specializing in the study and development of Arab music sciences, to enhance academic curricula and support young researchers.
- Integrating heritage into education: Incorporating Arab musical heritage, with its local diversity, into the educational curricula of schools and institutes to instill awareness of it in new generations.
Local, regional and international impact
The importance of this initiative extends beyond the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to encompass the entire Arab world. Locally, these efforts reinforce Saudi cultural identity, with the Saudi committee having already documented 14 Hijazi maqams and over 160 Saudi rhythms. Regionally, the conference establishes unprecedented Arab cooperation, uniting efforts to confront the threat of the disappearance of many traditional arts. Internationally, the creation of a global digital resource will contribute to presenting Arabic music in its correct academic form to institutes and universities worldwide, enhancing its standing, correcting misconceptions about it, and making it an integral part of global human heritage.
In his address, Advisor Al-Sheikh thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their unwavering support of the culture and entertainment sectors, and commended the efforts of the Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan. He emphasized the importance of integration among all entities, noting that the collaboration between the Ministry of Culture and the General Entertainment Authority has opened broader horizons for the realization of this major scientific project, which will make Riyadh a leading cultural and artistic beacon in the region.
