Zähem

Zähem is a term used in ethnomusicology to denote a musical modality and its accompanying performance tradition found in several traditional communities. It describes a distinctive scale profile, a set of melodic ornamentations, and a ritualized structure for collective singing and instrumental playing. In performance, zähem often employs a modal framework that features a pitch collection with microtonal inflections. The lead vocal line is typically supported by a chorus and by instruments such as reed-like aerophones and membranophones. A defining feature is the cyclical form, with repeated sections that build and retreat around a narratively guided chorus or spoken text.

Performance contexts for zähem include communal ceremonies, storytelling gatherings, and rites of passage. The practice is valued for its role in reinforcing social memory, transmitting oral histories, and coordinating social activities across generations. Scholars describe its social functions as linking individual identity to communal belonging and as a vehicle for moral or ritual instruction.

History and scholarship: The term has appeared in field reports and ethnomusicology studies since the mid-20th century. Analysts compare zähem to neighboring modal traditions, exploring questions of diffusion, convergent development, and local adaptation. Debates continue over how to classify its scale theory and how its performance practice varies among communities.

See also: ethnomusicology, modal music, microtonal theory, ostinato, ritual performance.