Maqam Immersion
Ajam – happy, joyful, victorious, powerful Hijaz – longing, sounds Arabian, snake charming Nahawand: feeling, emotional, often love themed Bayat: powerful, uplifting, uses one-quarter tone, the essence of Arabic music Rast: “the maqam of tarab”, 2 quarter tones, popular with instrumental and vocal soloists. Kurd: airy, spacious, freedom, common in modern Arabic music Sika: youth, strength, used in traditional songs, starts and ends with a quarter tone Saba: bluesy, sad when played slow, fast is danceable
