Expert writers present the major traditions of North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia, together with personal accounts of performers, composers, teachers and ceremonies. A special feature of this volume is the inclusion of dozens of brief essays that offer 'life stories' of typical music makers and their art, as well as first-person descriptions of specific music performances and events. Approximately 120 articles cover communities that preserve and enrich centuries-old traditions. The volume also explores such topics as political dissent, pop music genres, technology, poetry, gender and the historical and scholarly roots of Middle Eastern music.