ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Aspiring maqam vocalists can now learn the traditional art form at the new Maqam House, established by Erbil’s Cihan University.
Maqam is a traditional form of music in the Arab world, distinguished by melodic modes called maqamat. Melodies are built on a foundation of a series of notes with precise intervals and every maqam has a distinct tone and feeling.
“This house will be opened to develop vocalists who do not know about the art of maqam, but are familiar with singing. And for all the students and others that want to join the community, we will have training sessions for them about maqam,” Ziad Karim, spokesman for the Cihan University Cultural Agency, told Rudaw’s Bakhtiyar Qadir on Friday.
The art of performing and understanding maqam music depends on knowing both music theory and how to convey emotion through improvisation within the established maqam framework.