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Palestine music has a long and eventful history. Although the early years saw a proliferation of rural work songs and ritual based music, modern Palestine music shows a more distinct Western and particularly American influence with genres like rap and hip-hop gaining in popularity. Music of Palestine shares a lot in common with Arabian music, although there are certain distinctive features of the music in Palestine that clearly distinguishes it from other sub-genres of Arabian music.
The earliest Palestine music can be divided into two forms. There were the work songs associated with activities like farming, fishing and weaving. There were also ritualistic songs that were sung on special social and religious occasions like marriages or childbirths. The other form was the songs of the travelling minstrels, who sung of past glories and the exploits of national heroes. The many communities who made Palestine their home from the very early days dictated the form and structure of music in Palestine.
The Israelite occupation of 1948 changed the face of Palestine music as it brought about large scale migration. Classical music came to be practiced, although Turkish and Arab influences were pronounced in these classical forms. The names of Umm Kulthum and Sayed Darwish should be mentioned as the two greatest exponents of classical music in Palestine. However, with migration, oppression and other political turmoils impressing themselves on the life of Palestine, it did not take long for the music of Palestine to take on a more nationalist and patriotic color. A Ashiqeen, El Funoun and Suhail Khoury emerged into prominence during this time.
Modern day music of Palestine retains its telling political character, though the form has become more contemporary with the introduction of American forms like RAP and hip-hop. DAM and Patriarch are leading hip-hop artists of Palestine. Some of the more traditional forms like wedding songs are also making a comeback in the recent years.
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