Mike's Oud Forums

iranian "esfahan" and "mahour" scales?

oudheinz - 1-16-2011 at 06:22 AM

hi,
could someone explain to me the esfahan and mahour scales(?) in iranian music. are they modes or scales? are they similar to arabic maqamat or something completely different?

(i just started playing oud and don't know much yet)

thanks.


spyblaster - 1-16-2011 at 09:22 AM

hi
iranian music is based on Dastgahs. mahoor is very close to Major scale while Isfahan is close to minor scale. as i know, Persian Dastgahs and Arabic Maqamat have the same roots. as they still have similar names.as i remember, Mahoor and Ajam has the same intervals. Isfahan and Nahawand are very clos too.
why dont u try a Radif book? u can buy it online and learn persian Dastgahs.
good luck

oudheinz - 1-17-2011 at 02:21 AM

thanks very much for that interesting reply.
can you recommend any radif book? ideally one with cd for sound examples...

i see that negar bouban is working on one with cds, but it seems not available yet.

spyblaster - 1-17-2011 at 04:03 AM

leave those bull<b>shoot</b>s for them selves! best option is Mirza Abdollah Radif for Tar & Setar (Jean During). published by Mahoor pub. the CD is available too, Boroomand performance by Tar.

http://www.mahoor.com/books/Mahoor/The-Radif-of-Mirza-Abdollah--For...
http://www.mahoor.com/cd/Pedagogical-Works/The-Radif-of-Mirza-Abdol...