Arabic Musical Maqaams: Another Persian Legacy?

Arabic Musical Maqaams: Another Persian Legacy?

The Arabic musical Maqaams has a very interesting history. It has been expressed in an Arabic acronym as: “S-N-A-B-S-H-R-K” (SONE-A-BE-SEHREK, in Arabic language) This acronym refers to the eight basic styles of music in Arabic, that comprise the entire Arabic art of musical performances, as well as the technical recitation of the Holy Qur’an and the Azan (the Islamic call to prayer). All these so-called “Arabic Maqaams” are actually Persian—both in origin as well as in their names. This article is trying to explain this artistic and historic development, in simple words, to the non-technical folks, as well as the students of the middle eastern and the Latin music.