Can anybody recommend good english or german resources to get into modal improvisation and maqams? I'm very interested in the modal traditions of Turkey, Iran as well as Azerbaijan, but also open for other similar traditions.
/edit: Thank you all for your recommendations. This will keep me occupied for a while.
Title, but even general resources for learning and developing maqam literacy would be great!
I am not sure how to search for these places as I canβt write Arabic. A link to their website and GPS location would be appreciated. Also, is Sufi music popular in Iraq? If so, where can I find Sufi musicians? Thank you!
Beda garak ho Endian hackers kay
This is an ayah from Surah Furqan recited by Sheikh Abdul Basit Abdul Samad.
Translation: "And whoever should do that will meet a penalty. Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated - Except for those who repent, believe."
A place for members of r/maqam to chat with each other
What do you think about the theory of maqam music? Is it easy, or complicated to learn and understand with current explanation?
Let me explain some of my opinions about this question:
H. Saadettin Arel and Suphi Ezgi were Turkish musicologists. In the 20th century, they made a system to "write down" the Turkish maqam music. Because there was no systemized notation system (like classical western music) during Ottoman Empire, and a lot of piece was facing the danger of being forgotten.
Why there wasn't any maqam theory in Ottomans? Actually, there was. Some Ottoman musicologists like Dimitrie Cantemir and Ali Ufki has tried to write maqam music, but their writings was not a notation method at all. They were weak. In Ottoman, the popular teaching method was "meshk" which is only practicly repeating and memorizing your teachers' teachings.
So, Arel and his buddies created a method. But they failed in many points. Because the practic maqam music was hard to "write". Now, the practice and playing of maqams are quite different from his "writen" theory. Anyway, there were no alternatives for his system, so the Turkish state has accepted his system as a formal method for education.
Many musicians know the differences between practice and Arel's theory. But they still use it for long years. Now, let me give some examples.
The "koma" which you ask, is "Holdrian Comma". It is a term for identifying the smallest music intervals which does not exist in Western Music. For example, in piano, there is 1 half note between 2 notes (if it's not E-F or B-C). But in Arel's system, there are 9 commas (notes). He tried to symbolize these 9 commas, but he couldn't success. His symbols are useless and wrong. Also, 9 commas are not fair enough to explain maqams. They are just making things harder to understand.
The second big problem is about tuning. In Arel's method, E note is accepted as A note. So, when we see note A, we actually play piano E. This is an unacceptable serious mistake. And it is completely illogical. I think you are surprised.
Hey guys im looking into purchasing my first synth but i really want it to be able to play maqam scales or anything microtonal. Where should i start looking? Thanks !
Hey guys, Iβm brand new to music theory. Essentially learning Arabic and reciting poetry and apparently thereβs these things called Maqams you can recite in,, how do I learn them? Thank you.
