Introducing maqamat

• Maqam:
  • literally "place", "station".
  • In music of the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia: melodic mode (also sometimes a suite featuring a particular mode)
  • Sometimes other names are used: dastgah in Iran, Tab` in North Africa
• Maqam in music: a transposable pitch collection, with:
  • (1) tonal functions, including tonic, dominant, like major/minor, but adding also:
  • (2) melodic patterns (opening, development, points of repose or tension, closing formulas)
  • (3) "microtones"
• "Microtones" (the term is relative!) - intervals outside either 12TET or low-integer "just" intonations (e.g. Pythagorean={2,3} or 5 limit={2,3,5}
• Due to these variables, the maqamat are numerous!
  • a dozen or more in Egypt
  • many dozens in Turkey
• Saltana: getting the maqam stuck in your head!
• Maqam Bayyati and its ajnas.
• Maqam Shuri and its ajnas.
• Sing and use this tuner to check your intonation
• Ah Ya Hilu
• General theory