Approaching improvisation through maqam practices

Abstract

This study explores the differences between the Ottoman/Turkish, Anatolian, Persian, Arabic and Azerbaijani maqams, and how improvisation works in the maqam tradition. The concept of maqam varies from area to area, and this study has examined four different maqam traditions to try to find similarities that can create community and understanding. It refers to thinking from a broader perspective instead of thinking only about a single maqam tradition. This study also considers ideas about improvisation and demonstrates that there are always rules in maqam and improvisation does not mean just playing freely and musicians must know the rules. This work includes some comparisons with Indian music, especially with raga and improvisation, as there are similarities with the maqam tradition. Researching improvisation in maqam music is unusual but I have chosen to focus on this through observations and discussions and observations from different maqam areas to gain a broad perspective. The project also includes a series of my own improvisations from different maqam areas.