Mizrahi

``Mizrahi'' means Eastern and refers to Jews of Eastern Mediterranean and further to the East.

The music also mixes local traditions. Actually a very ``eastern flavored'' musical tradition which encompasses Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and as east as India.

Middle Eastern percussion instruments share an important part with the violin in typical Mizrahi songs. The music is usually high pitched in general.

In Israel today Mizrahi music is very popular.

A ``Muzika Mizrahit'' movement emerged in the 1950s. Mostly with with performers from the ethnic neighborhoods of Israel: the Yemenite ``Kerem HaTemanim'' neighborhood of Tel Aviv, Moroccan, Iranian and Iraqi immigrants - who played at weddings and other events.

Songs were performed in Hebrew but with a clear Arabic style on traditional Arabic instruments: the ``Oud'', the ``Kanun'', and the ``darbuka''.

Classic Hebrew literature, including liturgical texts and poems by medieval Hebrew poets constitued the main source of lyrics.