''Firqa'' ( ar, فرقة, plural: فرق; ''firaq'') is a

musical ensemble A musical ensemble, also known as a music group or musical group, is a group of people who perform instrumental and/or vocal music, with the ensemble typically known by a distinct name. Some music ensembles consist solely of instrumentalists ...

orchestra An orchestra (; ) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families. There are typically four main sections of instruments: * bowed string instruments, such as the violin, viola, c ...

Middle Eastern music The various nations of the region include the Arabic-speaking countries of the Middle East, the Iranian traditions of Persia, the Jewish music of Israel and the diaspora, Armenian music, Kurdish music, Azeri Music, the varied traditions of Cypr ...

. While a similar ensemble called ''

takht Takht may refer to: Places Iran *Takht-e Olya, a village in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran *Takht-e Sofla, a village in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran *Takht, Golestan, a village in Mindasht County, Golestan Province, Iran *Takht, Hamadan, a villag ...

'' typically comprised between two and five musicians, the ''firqa'' generally numbers eight or mor

https://archive.org/details/voiceofegyptummk00dani/page/203 ] Since the firqa incorporates a substantial number of western instruments including the violin and piano accordion, in 1940s Egypt the popularity of this expanded ensemble caused it to displace the takht as the ensemble of choice. From there the firqa became popular throughout the Arabic world including Eastern and Northern Africa. Beginning in the 1930s, the Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum (singer), Umm Kulthum was accompanied by a ''firqa''.

See also