Well observed – I completely agree!
In my opinion, exactly this conversion of the eastern makam system, adapted to tempered scales and merging with other features of western music, makes
it so fascinating – Greek music in general, but the Rembetiko style in particular. In would rather call it a melting pot of eastern and western
music.
Besides your well-described details, you will find more. For instance, if you listen to talented bouzouki players, you will notice that they tend to
use tremolo, ornamentation or even chromatic runs exactly at those scale positions, which are related to non-western intervals in the original makam,
e.g. 2nd in Ussak or 6th in Hijaz. It seems that all these techniques emerged to resemble the original, non-tempered scales and to conserve the main
aspect of the corresponding makam in a non-microtonal environment.
You will even find both together: fretted instrument or accordion playing western, tempered scales; while singers, clarino or fretless-instruments
(like oud) using microtonal scales - in the same piece, at the same time, simultaneously. One may think this does not match, but it is daily practice.
Another aspect: The use of (western) harmonies. Microtonal music is usually linear, with focus on melody, rhythm, ornamentation, but usually no
chords. In contrast, you find all kind of harmonies in Rembetiko: 2nd (and 3rd voices), and chords even with makam-based scales (dhromi). The result
is a fascinating mixture of east and west, makam-based plus harmony-based. (You see me a bit enthusiastic, still. )
But why and when did this happen? Probably western influence (especially Italian) was as common as eastern during the Ottoman empire. However, one
major historic gamechanger was obviously the population exchange after the Turkish-Greek war in 1922. Millions of refugees, including musicians,
bringing their eastern music tradition with them, meeting other Greek musicians with European background. A melting pot, and the birth of Rembetiko.
And this tradition is still very much alive, is becoming even more popular. |