Mike's Oud Forums

Sikah note question

shivadonga - 5-12-2007 at 03:15 PM

Hi every world
I have clear that the note sikah(E half-flat) in Rast makam is more higher than Bayati´s sikah but....I don,t know....
The sikah of maqam Saba is like Bayati or like Rast? or is in the halfway between Bayati and Rast?
And the Sikah of maqam Mustaar?
I hope that someone helps me
Thanks
Best Inspirations;)

corridoio - 5-12-2007 at 06:48 PM

hi shivadonga
looking to maqamworld.com seems clear in this way:
-"the first 3 notes of maqam Saba are the beginning of the Bayati tetracord" so th E half flat is like in Bayati (E half flat lower)
-the Mustaar is equal to sikah except the F# instead of F, and the E half flat of sikah is like Rast, higher..
but I'm studying like you, so if there's something wrong somebody correct it!
ale.

shivadonga - 5-13-2007 at 05:18 AM

First,Corridoio;Thanks to your concrete and descriptive answer.
Yes;I knowed maqamworld;I have not nothing against them,on the contrary,is a great site but I have proposed this question because there is a serious contradiction between they(maqamworld) write (the theory) about Sikah note and the Sikah note recorded in their maqamat.
You can import their sikah notes in one spectral analyzer and you will see that the frequency of all the Sikah notes is the same,don,t reflect the variety of the sikah note.
The same occurs with A and B half-flat notes,their frequency are the same.
Also i have two other questions:
A-What happens when the low half-flat meets(is mixed) with the high half-flat,for example in maqam Husseini:Bayati´s E half-flat low with Rast´s B half-flat high.
Or vice versa,when the high half-flat meets(is mixed) with the low half-flat,for example in maqam Nairuz:Rast´s E half-flat high with Bayati´s A half-flat low.Or in maqam Iraq:Sikah´s B half-flat high with Bayati´s E half-flat low.
We must play(respect) their original positions,for example in maqam Husseini we will play E half-flat low and B half-flat high or the E half-flat low will dominate(will be contagioused) to B half-flat high and this will be played as B half-flat low also.
B-In Suzdular tetrachord(2-5-3) C-Db-E half-flat-F,the E half-flat is the low?
In Zawil pentachord(4-3-5-2) C-D-E half-flat-F#-G,the E half-flat is the high?
In Rakb pentachord(3-3-3-5) A-B half-flat-C-D half-flat-E,the B and the D half-flats are the low?
Thanks to your attention
Best nights

Brian Prunka - 5-13-2007 at 10:52 AM

This theoretical high-vs-low intonation question is somewhat misguided. The intonation of all the notes are what they are, which varies from on region to another, from one maqam to another, and for different phrases within the same maqam. In short, intonation in Arabic music is infinitely variable. There is no theretical system which can encompass the complexity of the musical practice. All you can do is listen to recordings and performers, especially older recordings. The question of intonation is not limited to "quarter-tones", but applies to all of the notes. It cannot be learned theoretically, and it cannot be systematized. The only way to learn is listening to masters.