The musical centers established in Mecca and Medina before the Orthodox caliphate (632–661) continued to flourish during the Umayyad era (661–750), even though the capital was moved to Damascus. Women musicians and their patrons enjoyed considerable freedom compared with those of the later ‘Abbasid era (750–1258), when more and more restrictions against the public activities of women, particularly women of higher status, would begin to take effect.
One of the most influential performers...