The melodic and rhythmic structure of national anthems in the Arab Gulf States region

Abstract

The national anthem is a true reflection of a nation's history and the struggles of its leaders. It embodies the beliefs and traditions of its people and expresses national identity. The symbols of leaders, kings, and figures with a historical legacy become anthems sung by the people. Therefore, the national anthem serves as the foundation for stirring patriotic feelings among citizens, reminding them of their nation's glory and the nature of their land. This strengthens national belonging, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or belief. The national anthem's content showcases the characteristics of nations and celebrates the courage and strength of their heroes, who defended the right to a dignified life for all people. National anthems in Arab countries, especially those of the Arabian Gulf, are characterized by simplicity. In terms of their content, they carry several forms, some with a royal character, others with a republican character, and others with a regional character. There is another type of national anthem that expresses feelings of love and pride in the nation, homeland, and history. If we accept that the text of national anthems is in harmony with the melodies, then we find that the construction of the narrative meaning of the text and melody is subject to controls that are embodied in how each of them is built according to a harmonic consistency in text and melody. Based on the above, the researcher found that the justifications for this research lie in (the extent of the poetic text’s structural conformity in terms of rhythm and melody with the melody in the musical scales of the national anthems of the Arabian Gulf countries).