Arabesque (classical music)

An arabesque is a type of music which uses melodies to create the atmosphere of Arabic architecture. The term and themes are borrowed from the art term arabesque, rather than stemming from Arabic music. It is a highly ornamented style. The name has origins in the middle of the seventeenth century, it is derived from the Italian word "arabesco," which is translated to "in Arabic style," from the noun "arabo." The French translation became "arabesque," and this term peaked in popularity in the middle of the nineteenth century. Western interpretations of the Arabic style was characterised by Islamic art, and then implemented in the musical sphere. The art form entails rhythmic linear and intricate geometric patterns to decorate motifs which consists of foliage, fruits or tree leaves. These patterns were found within Islamic architecture, in mosques and palaces. These lines found within nature and Islamic art are mirrored within the melodies of arabesque music, described as "highly ornamental." The arabesque emerged in the West as a part of the Classical period in music, defined by the return to classical forms of art from Greece and Rome, and in this case, Arab classical culture.