Lysander
Oud Junkie
Posts: 410
Registered: 7-26-2013
Location: London, UK
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Use of the word 'ornamentation'
I was wondering what people though about the use of this word to describe 'florid' improvisational melody.
I'm sure I read David Muellam saying that he disliked the use of the word [if anyone can find out where he says this in The Maqam Book it would be
greatly appreciated].
I see the word used a lot, but is it accurate since a lot of these instrumental or vocal embellishments are accurate, legitimate uses of the
maqam/taqsim/recitational seyir. They are not necessarily incidental. Thoughts?
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Jody Stecher
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1378
Registered: 11-5-2011
Location: California
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To my way of thinking, a melody cannot be ornamented. Only a single pitch can be ornamented. Melodic variation, both spontaneous ("improvised") and
pre-meditated ("composed") is just that: melodic variation. It's not a decoration. Trills, mordents, tremolo and a whole bucketful of other
decorations to a single pitch (often involving neighboring pitches) are generally what is meant by "ornamentation". If a melody is ornamented it
because some of its component pitches are ornamented. I suppose it could be said that a melody that has a number of melodic variations is "ornamented"
by these variations but I think that is not what is generally meant. The use of neighboring pitches in ornamentation does not —in my opinion—
constitute a melodic variation. The melody is the same but some of its component notes are wearing necklaces or ankle bracelets.
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