David.B - 9-10-2009 at 08:04 AM
Before I go further into George Abyad's takasim, I identified every rhythms.
I found Samai Thaqil, Bambi Kabir (thanks to oudistcamp), Masmoudi and Fox, but I'm not sure about this one you can find on 3 tracks :
http://www.dailymotion.com/user/DavidBrocard/video/xafzcq_rast_musi...
http://www.dailymotion.com/user/DavidBrocard/video/xafzaz_hijaz_mus...
http://www.dailymotion.com/user/DavidBrocard/video/xafzbq_nahawand_...
I think this is Wahda Kabir (or Wahda ?) but I'm not sure. Could you enlighten me ?
oudistcamp - 9-11-2009 at 01:52 AM
The Rast and Hijaz pieces have Wahda (One):
D tk tk T tk tk T k
The Nahawand piece (faster) has Malfuf/Saudi (Gulf):
D kT -k Tk and sometimes
D kT -k T
The 2 rhythms have accents in common, but played at different speeds with different fills between accents. They end up sounding very different.
Note: Wahda, being an open rhythm, has lent itself to a variety of ornamentations and fills that could result in it sounding quite different from it's
formal definition.
David.B - 9-11-2009 at 02:27 AM
Thank you so much oudistcamp !
"Note: Wahda, being an open rhythm, has lent itself to a variety of ornamentations and fills that could result in it sounding quite different from
it's formal definition."
-> Yes, kind of tricky for me...
I'm checking by myself with the CD : it's easier when I've got it written, definitely !
Just one last question about Bambi Kabir : is it usual to start on the 3rd time ?
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xag9dm_bayati
oudistcamp - 9-11-2009 at 03:08 AM
The Bayati piece has Bolero/Rhumba:
D tk T k T k D k
It is like the Bambi, but off by one beat, thus splitting the 2 Doums (one in beginning, one at the end of the rhythm).
Just FYI, sometimes Rhumba is defined as:
D tk t K t K D k
switching the accent from T to K which results in a different groove.
Thank you for the questions. I get excited when melodists are interested in the foundation/rhythm of a piece.
David.B - 9-11-2009 at 10:04 AM
If you want questions I'm your man 
Ok, I have so much to learn about rhythms... But I'm about to improve it !
With your help I can make this analysis of George Abyad's album which is available at :
http://www.arabicouds.com/music.html (at the end of the page)
1) Rhythm Samai Thaqil / Taksim Rast / Rhythm Wahda
2) Rhythm Samai Thaqil / Taksim Bayati / Rhythm Bolero-Rhumba
3) Rhythm Masmoudi / Taksim Houzam
4) Rhythm Wahda / Taksim Hijaz / Rhythm Bambi Kabir
5) Rhythm Malfuf-Saudi / Taksim Nahawand
6) Rhythm Samai Thaqil / Taksim Shat Arabân / Rhythm Bambi Kabir
7) Taksim Nakriz / Rhythm Fox
If you have the time to confirm or infirm you're welcome 
Right now I've got the track number 6) in my fingers except the end with the Bambi Kabir. I made it on my Korg Pa50 but it sounds too insipid and I
think I'm gonna skip it 
It's a shame we are not in the same area, I would come and disturb you to record what you do with percussions (Darbuka ? Riq ?).
About the Malfuf/Saudi : The biggest difference with Malfuf is about time signature, 4/4 instead of 2/4, isn't it ?
oudistcamp - 9-11-2009 at 11:07 PM
To the best of my knowledge, all looks right with fine tuning in bold. Anyone else with feedback?
1) Rhythm Samai Thaqil / Taksim Rast / Rhythm Wahda
2) Rhythm Samai Thaqil / Taksim Bayati / Rhythm Bolero
3) Rhythm Masmoudi / Taksim Houzam
4) Rhythm Wahda / Taksim Hijaz / Rhythm Bambi Kabir
5) Rhythm Malfuf-Saudi / Taksim Nahawand
6) Rhythm Samai Thaqil / Taksim Shat Arabân / Rhythm Bambi Kabir
7) Taksim Nakriz / Rhythm Fox (also known as Naqara)
Malfuf/Saudi is a family of rhythms from the Gulf, and is usually considered in 2/4 time. However, depending who you talk to, the rhythms may be
considered to be 4/4, but less commonly so. Hope that helps.
David.B - 9-12-2009 at 02:05 AM
It helps a lot !
I've got 5 rhythms on 7 on my old ROLAND EM 15 OR (I don't have neither Bambi Kabir nor Bolero.) That's not so bad, enough to work well on this Cd
!
About Malfuf/Saudi, I beat it on the eighth notes to follow the oud. Now I understand, both Malfuf and Malfuf/Saudi are 2/4, after it depends the way
you beat it...
Great infos, happy to read your knowledge about rhythms, really useful, indeed