Everything about Ziryab totally explained
Abu l-Hasan ‘Ali Ibn Nafi‘ (
Persian and
Arabic: أبو الحسن علي ابن نافع ) (c.
789—
857), nicknamed
Ziryab (Arabic زرياب, Kurdish Zorab, also means golden water in
Persian language), was an
Iranian (
Persian or
Kurdish)
poet,
musician,
singer,
fashion designer,
trendsetter and
strategist at the
Umayyad court in
Córdoba in Spain. According to some sources, he was a former slave, possibly a
Zanj of
Tanzanian descent. The name "Ziryab" (Blackbird) was given to him for his dark complexion, eloquence, and melodious voice.
Ziryab was a gifted pupil of Ishaq al-Mawsili. He had to leave Baghdad when his skills as a musician surpassed those of his teacher. He moved to
Córdoba in southern
Spain and was accepted as court musician in the court of Abd al-Rahman II of the
Umayyad Dynasty (822-52).
Career
According to a few sources, Zyriab was a liberated black
slave from the
Baghdad court of
Haroun al-Rashid(External Link
). Ziryab left
Baghdad some time after the death of the Caliph al-Amîn in 813 and traveled first to
Sham (
Syria), then to Ifriqiyya (
Tunisia), where he lived at the
Aghlabid court of
Ziyadat Allah (ruled 816-837). Ziryab fell out with Ziyadat Allah but was invited to
Al-Andalus by the Umayyad prince, al-Hakam I. He found on arrival in
822 that the prince had died, but the prince's son,
Abd ar-Rahman II, renewed his father's invitation. Ziryab settled in
Córdoba, where he soon became even more celebrated as the court's aficionado of food, fashion, singing and music. He introduced standards of excellence in all these fields as well as setting new norms for elegant and noble manners. He was an intimate companion of the prince and established a school of music that trained singers and musicians which influenced musical performance for at least two generations after him. In the 9th Century he introduced the New Year celebration based on the
Iranian holiday
Newroz to the courts of
Andalusia in Spain and thence to Europe.
Music
Ziryab is said to have improved the
'ud by adding a fifth pair of strings, and using an eagle's beak or quill instead of a wooden pick. He is said to have created a unique and influential style of musical performance, and written songs that were performed in
Spain for generations. He was a great influence on Spanish music, and is considered the founder of the
Andalusian music traditions of
North Africa and the
Middle East. Zyriab is thought to have codified the disparate elements of
Arab poetic traditions of
qasidah,
mwashah and
zajal.
(External Link)
Abd al-Rahman II was a great patron of the arts and Zyriab was given a great deal of freedom. He established one of the first schools of
music. He was a great
virtuoso on the 'ud and an amazing singer. Ziryab also introduced musical instruments—notably the Persian
lute that became the Spanish
guitar—as well as passionate songs, tunes and dances of
Persia and
Mesopotamia that later, mixed with
Gypsy influence, evolved into the famed Spanish
flamenco. Ziryab established a music conservatory at the court of Abdel-Rahman at
Cordoba. (The German scholarly book "Moorish Architecture" by Barrucand states that Ziryab also introduced good taste, fine court manners and even new hair cuts into Spain)
Fashion
Ziryab is said to have had a lasting influence on
fashion, bringing styles from the Middle East to Al-Andaluz, including sophisticated styles of clothing based on seasonal and daily timings. In winter, for example, costumes were made essentially from warm
cotton or
wool items usually in dark colours and summer garments were made of cool and light costumes involving materials such as cotton,
silk and
flax in light and bright colours. Brilliant colours for these clothes were produced in
tanneries and
dye works which the
Muslim world perfected its production, for example, in 12th century
Fes,
Morocco, there were more than 86 tanneries and 116 dye works.
In daily timing Ziryab suggested different clothing for mornings, afternoons and evenings. Henry Terrace, a French historian, commented on the fashion work of Ziryab; "He introduced winter and summer dresses, setting exactly the dates when each fashion was to be worn. He also added dresses of half season for intervals between seasons. Through him, the luxurious dress of the Orient was introduced in Spain. Under his influence a fashion industry was set up, producing coloured striped fabric and coats of transparent fabric, which is still found in Morocco today.", though Terrace goes on to caution "Without a doubt, a lone man couldn't achieve this transformation. It is rather a development which shook the Muslim world in general, although historic legend attributes all these changes to Ziryab and his promoter, Abd-Al-Rahman II"
Ziryab is known to have invented an early
toothpaste, which he popularized throughout
Islamic Spain. but it was reported to have been both "fuctional and pleasant to taste." He also introduced under-arm
deodorants and "new short
hairstyles leaving the neck, ears and eyebrows free," as well as shaving for men.
Cuisine
He also "revolutionized the local
cuisine," by introducing new fruit and vegetables such as
asparagus, and by introducing the three-course meal, insisting that meals should be served in three separate courses consisting of
soup, the
main course, and
dessert. He also introduced the use of
crystal as a container for
drinks, which was more effective than metal
goblets.
Ziryab changed that. He brought with him many dishes form his native Baghdad, introduced fine tablecloths and glassware instead of metal goblets, and developed a new order of service for the table. This "more elegant, better-bred and modern style" became established in
al-Andalus, thence spread across the
Pyrenees to
Europe, and became the standard service we still use today. Hence the
banquet will be served according to the precepts of Ziryab, and so will differ from a the "traditional" style of serving one associates with Islamic food.
Legacy
Louie Provencal, the renowned historian of Spanish civilization says about Ziryab, "he was a genius and his influence in Spanish society of the time not only encompassed music but also all aspects of Society.”
Titus Burckhardt, the German historian of
Islam writes, “he was a genius musical scholar and at the same time the one who brought
Persian music to Spain and consequently to all of the western world. He was able to replace the primitive ways of
Arabs of that time with
Persian elegance.”
Further Information
Get more info on 'Ziryab'.
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