ARABIC MUSIC: MAQAMKatharine Kerr: Moroccan Music MiniTerm

What is Maqam? Translation: place, location, rank Pl. Maqamat System of notes used in traditional Arabic music. Maqam designated as a technical term in Arab music for the first time in

the fourteenth century. Defined by tradition with habitual patterns and melodic development. Maqam is the tonal system of North Africa, Near East and Central Asia Can Be achieved vocally or instrumentally

Otherwise known as…

Maqam is the general name given to the Arabic tonal system, however it is also known as: Makam – Turkey Destgah – Iraq Mugam – Azerbaijan Shash Maqom – Central

Asia

Background: Arab Music Arab music: an oral tradition Early Arabic music was very poetical Music traditions influenced by contact with various cultural traditions through the

expansion of Islam through the globe. Brought in various musical traditions, instruments, and rhythmic forms to the Muslim culture Included expansion of literate and scholarly traditions through contact with the cultures

Persia, India, Byzantium, and Greek heritage. Exposed to math and philosophy of Greek works which treated music theory as a branch of

mathematics Several Scholars contributed to Arabic music theory:

Al-Kindi (800-877AD) Wrote music theory on scales, musical notation using letters Described how to produce scales on the oud

Ibn Sina (b. 980AD) Based music theory on Greek models As a physician explored the healing power of music

Al-Farabi (870-950AD) Wrote about musical scales and intervals Concept of pitch and tuning instruments

Ziryab (Abul-Hasan b. 789AD) Introduced the oud to Spain Added a 5th string to the oud Later styles of composition and performance are traced to his ideas about harmony, rhythm,

and composition

Origins in Persia (Iran), Azerbaijan (Armenia), Turkey, Iraq, and Buchara (Russia)

The Oud

Because of the microtonal variations of Arabic music, the oud is an ideal instrument for playing notes in Arabic music.

Musicians are not constrained by fixed frets like on a guitar.

The Breakdown

Most maqamat are of Turkish, Persian, or Arabian influence or a mix of the three.

70+ different maqam 24 different tones in

an octave Each maqam can

have many different modes, each with similar characteristics to the main tone row.

Cont…

Maqam often include notes approximated by quarter tones. Depicted by a half-flat sign or a half-sharp

sign

Rarely are notes precisely halfway between two semitones.

Musicians must learn the exact tuning of a note by ear for each maqam

Cont…

A maqamat is made of sets of 3, 4, or 5 notes called jins (pl. ajnas) Translation:

gender, type or nature of something

Generally, maqam are made up of two main ajnas, upper and lower jins

Common Maqam

Rast maqam rast audio samples

Bayat maqam bayat audio samples

Saba maqam saba audio samples

Nahawand maqam nahawand audio

sample

Hijaz Hijaz-kar

maqam hijaz kar audio samples

‘ajam maqam 'ajan audio sample

Sikah

Moods of Maqam Each maqam is characterised by a different mood and

healing property. Maqam Rast:

Protects against physical and emotional paralysis Improves flexibility and dance Good for the eyes Enhances scientific thinking Creates Inner Calmness

Maqam Hicaz: Protects and strengthens the urogenital system, chest area, and heart. Creates Humility

Maqam Buselik: Effects joints, chest, belly, blood circulation, and blood pressure Prevents pain in the pelvis Creates Inner Power

Maqam vs. Western Scales

A maqam can have microtonal variations. Each maqam has a different character that

conveys mood, similar to the mood created by major and minor scales of Western music. Maqam rast envokes a feeling of pride Maqam sikah envokes a feeling of joy

Each maqam has specific rules about which notes should be emphasized, how often, and in what order.

There are rules about the starting note, ending note and dominant note.

Bibliography

Cohen, Dalia.   Palestinian Arab music : a Maqām tradition in practice / Dalia Cohen and Ruth Katz.  Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 2006.

 Simms, Rob, 1962-   The repertoire of Iraqi maqam / Rob Simms.  Lanham, Md. : Scarecrow Press, 2004.

Ben-Simhon, Yoel. "The Music." Sultana Ensemble. 2004. Sultana music. 1 Apr 2008 <http://www.sultanamusic.com/sultanaensemble/learnmusic.php>.

"The Arabic Maqam." Maqam World. 2001. Maqam World. 31 Mar 2008 <http://www.maqamworld.com/maqamat.html>.

Touma, Habib Hassan . "Arabian Music: Maqam." Maqamat. 15 Jan 2008. Multimedia Publishing. 1 Apr 2008 <http://www.classicalarabicmusic.com/maqam.htm>.

Parfitt, David. "Music Notation." The Oud. 2004. 3 Apr 2008 <http://www.oud.eclipse.co.uk/notation.html>.

"Music." Cities of Light. 2007. Unity Productions Foundation. 3 Apr 2008 <http://www.islamicspain.tv/Arts-and-Science/The-Culture-of-Al-Andalus/Music.htm>.

Guverc,Oruc. "Rivers of One:The Rast Makam Traditional Sufi Healing Music." Interworld Music,1997.