2- Maqamat that contain small steps (3/4 steps) in their scales

(Oud )  We start today with the third variety of Maqamat that contain small steps in their scales (1/4 steps).  These Modes were discussed in the general music convention that was held in Cairo in the year 1932 and was decided that the ¼ step was something imaginary, and this was the result of listening to many examples of the musical heritage of all regions of the Arab world.  It was found the existence of this sound in the third and seventh notes of some Maqamat, and in the second and sixth notes of others, as well as the Tonic note of the third variety of Maqamat.  This is accomplished by lowering the specified note by a small percentage of the sound step, with a variety of ratios corresponding to the particular Maqam played.   

     The above study had limited results due to the usage of an instrument called the Sonometer.  And it was agreed that the best instrument to discern the musical sound would the human ear, which is sensitive to the smallest changes of sound vibrations.  Dr. Mehdi has done a scientific study in the American National institute, in the city of Interlockern in the state of Michigan, using the Strobocon for sound measurement of musical sounds used in Tunisian music, and the result was that of lowering the sound steps between 20%-30% (Sample ) and 40% (Sample ) of a full step (Sample ).  It was decided to keep the lowered note that was discussed in Cairo in 1932, lowered by 30%.  A second horizontal dash was added to the flattened note, to indicate a 20% flat, and a third dash to indicate a 40% flat.  Dr. Mehdi’s colleagues from Turkey, Iran and Germany had agreed with him on this research and symbolism during a symposium at the Gute Institute in Beirut, in 1968. 

      We now introduce a group of Trichords, Tetra chords and Pentachords that contain these small steps (3/4 steps).  A premier Tetra chord is the Rast Tetra chord on the Tonic of Do (C), where its third note is lowered by 30% (Sample ).  Another is Rast El-Theel on the same Tonic but its third note is lowered by 40% (Sample ).  And here is a Bayati Tetra chord with a Tonic of Re (D), where its second note is lowered by 30% (Sample ).  However, a Hijaz on the same Tonic, Re, has its second note lowered 40% (Sample ).  And here is a Saba Tetra chord, with its second note is lowered 30%, while its fifth note is completely flat (Sample ).  Here is a Sagah (of Persian origin) Trichord, where its Tonic, Mi (E), is lowered 30% (Sample ). 

This group of Maqamat is composed of:

Maqam Rast and its Varieties such as:

  Suznak

  Saz Kar

  Neirooz 

  Dernisheen

  Muheiar Iraq 

  Rast El-Theel

  Al-Mayah.

Maqam Bayati and its Varieties such as:

  Turkish Ushshaq

  Al-Husseini

  Muheiar 

  Bayati Chury  

  Saba.

In North Africa, the equivalent of Bayati is Al-Hussein and its varieties such as:
Al-Hussein Niriz, Al-Hussein Asl, Al-Hussein Usheiran, Al-Hussein Saba and Al-Hussein Ajam.

Maqam Hijaz and two varieties;

  Al-Hamayoon 

   Shahnaz

  Maqam Al-Sikah and related Maqamat such as:

  Huzam

  Iraq

  Al-Bustanikar

  Maqam Zangulah

Andalusian heritage Maqamat such as:

  Raml-Al-Mayah