One of the primary things you must do if you intend to choreograph a piece of music is to work out its structure (I actually think the most important thing is that you must like or at least be inspired by the piece!)This way you will initially “see” the structure and later on you will be able to recognize melody repeats or even the same melody played by different instruments. For the latter it is unlikely you will do exactly the same movements but you could then have a common thread (leading to unity and variety).
Following are some examples of the structural outlines for some of the music I have choreographed to over the years. For obvious reasons this is my interpretation of the structure – you may well disagree but this is the framework within which I have worked to create my choreographies.
Oh and some are more vague than others – which depends on how easy I find the music to work with as well as reflecting whether for solo or group work.
Tin Tin by Oojami
Sallam Allay from Best of Hossam Ramzy
Nokta by Rachid Taha (Arabesque Zoudge)
Harem by REG Project
Aziza – Best of Hossam Ramzy
Petra – From Café Arabesque
Sultans Dance by Solace (Gathering Season)

Tin Tin by Oojami
Number of bars |
Time (approx) |
What music does |
Notes |
2 |
|
drums |
|
16 |
4s |
Violin melody A. 4 rising notes, each held for 1 bar (4 counts). Repeat 4 times |
“Stars” come in on repeat 3; on 4 th get drums building |
8 |
35s |
Violin melody B. 2 x 4 bar repeat |
drums enter on last two bars of 2 nd repeat |
6 |
50s |
Start as melody B (2) links to drum and melody bridge 1 (4) |
|
8 |
1.03 |
Violin melody C. 2 x 2 bar repeat
Voice for 4 bars |
Slow violin |
8 |
1.17 |
Violin melody D. Violin for 4 bars; drums for 2 bars; voice for 2 bars |
|
8 |
1.32 |
drums with stars on bars 3, 5, 7 |
|
4 |
1.49 |
violin D |
|
4 |
1.56 |
drums and melody 2 |
|
6 |
2.03 |
voice (2)and drum(2) voice (1) drum(1) |
|
4 |
2.16 |
drums and melody 2 |
|
4 |
2.23 |
violin E |
high |
4 |
2.29 |
violin and drum q&A x 2 |
|
4 |
2.37 |
violin F |
slow |
4 |
2.46 |
as violin D with drums |
|
12 |
2.53 |
2x bar; 4x4bar; 6x bar repeats |
all three different |
4 |
3.16 |
violin as D with drums |
|
4 |
3.23 |
violin F |
2 with voice |
4 |
3.32 |
high tinkle! |
2 with voice |
4 |
3.41 |
violin F |
|
20 |
3.48 |
drum 2 bars; voice 6 bars; stars 2 bars
drum 2x2bars; voice 2 bars; stars 4 bars |
|
4 |
4.25 |
voice |
|
4 |
4.36 |
drums and melody bridge 1 |
|
8 |
4.43 |
violin F for 4 bars; with voice 4 bars |
|
16 |
4.55 |
As violin D – repeat twice |
|
2 |
5.28 |
voice to finish |
|
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Sallam Allay – From Best of Hossam Ramzy
Time (approx) |
What music does |
Notes |
0-16 |
Introduction |
|
16-48 |
Melody 1 (repeat x2) |
Clarinet |
48-1.20 |
Melody 1 (repeat x2) |
mizmar |
1.20-1.36 |
Melody 2 |
C |
1.37-1.42 |
Bridge |
|
1.42-1.57 |
Melody 1 |
M |
1.58-2.14 |
Melody 1 rpt |
c |
2.14-2.45 |
drums |
|
2.46-3.50 |
Melody three |
m |
3.50-4.07 |
Melody 1 |
c |
4.07-4.22 |
Melody 1 |
M |
4.22-4.44 |
Melody 1 |
C |
4.45-5.02 |
Melody 1 |
M |
5.03-5.16 |
Finale |
|
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Nokta by Rachid Taha (Arabesque Zoudge)
(Sorry no timings!)
Entrance
Upbeat section
Melody
Verse 1
Chorus
Drum ( short bridge)
Verse 2
Chorus
Verse three
Verse four
Verse 5
Verse 6
Repeat of verse 1 melody.
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Harem by REG Project
Introduction (0-47)
Verse 1 (48-1.20) melody repeats 4x
Bridge (1.20-1.36)
Verse 1 melody (1.36-1.52) repeats 2x
Violin taqasims (1.52-2.10)
Drum (2.10-2.26)
Verse 2 (2.26-2.58)repeat 2x
Verse 1 melody (to end)
Rpt x2; rpt x1 (lighter); rpt x1 (lighter)
Finish

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Aziza – Best of Hossam Ramzy
Structure |
Time |
Introduction |
0-0.47 |
Bridge |
47-58 |
Ney |
58-1.22 |
Chorus and bridge |
1.22-1.54 |
Qanoon |
1.54-2.10 |
Ney (2) |
2.10-2.27 |
Chorus and Bridge |
2.27-2.46 |
Question and Answer |
2.46-3.06 |
Accordion into Q and A |
3.06-4-.23 |
Chorus |
4.23 |
Finale |
4.42 |
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Petra – From Café Arabesque
Structure |
Time |
Introduction |
0-21 |
Melody 1 |
21-37 |
Vocal 1 |
37-52 |
Chorus ( violin) |
53-1.20 |
Vocal 2 |
1.21-1.43 |
Chorus |
1.43-2.15 |
Vocal 3 |
2.15-2.46 |
Chorus (violin) |
2.46-3.06 |
Melody 2 |
3.06-3.30 |
Melody 3 |
3.30-4.05 |
Chorus |
4.05- |
And fade |
|

Sultans Dance by Solace (Gathering Season)
Structure |
Time |
Introduction |
0-14 |
Section 1 – repeat of intro melody x2 |
14-30 |
Section 2 – new 4x repeat |
30-42 |
Section 3 - new 4x repeat |
42-56 |
Bridge drum |
56-1.05 |
Section 1 repeat |
1.05-1.18 |
Section 2 |
1.18-1.33 |
Section 4 – new 4x repeat |
1.33-1.47 |
Section 5 – new 4x repeat |
1.47-2.01 |
Section 1 |
2.01-2.15 |
Section 2 |
2.16-2.29 |
Section 1 – slowed down |
2.29-2.44 |
Section 2 |
2.44-2.58 |
Drum Bridge |
2.58-3.06 |
Drum and Section 3 x2 |
3.06-3.32 |
Section 1 |
3.32-3.46 |
Finale – slowed Section 1 |
3.46-4.06 |
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