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MAQAMOT EXPLAINED
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راست
Rast is the first maqam in the arrangement of the Oriental maqamat and therefore represents a beginning. The word Rast sounds similar to RAS, the Arabic word for head. As a result, we use Maqam Rast in the prayers for the Shabbats that we begin a new Humash as well as the Minha service of Shabbat because that is the first time the upcoming Perasha is read. On the Shabbat when the first perasha of each Humash is read, Maqam Rast is employed. Thus on the weeks of Perashat Bereshit, Shemot and Vayiqra this maqam is applied. Although we read about Berit Milah in Shemot, the idea of commencement of a new book takes precedence, especially since this was a postponed Berit Milah. Perashat Bemidbar is usually Shabbat Kalah, the Shabbat prior to Shabuot, therefore some use Maqam Hoseni. In the event that it is not Shabbat Kalah, then Rast is employed. Perashat Debarim is always Shabbat Hazon, the Shabbat prior to Tisha B’Ab; therefore Maqam Hijaz is used instead of Rast. This maqam should also be used the Shabbat immediately after Passover. Rast tetrachord: starting on C
Mahour is a higher pitched version of Maqam Rast. The way to end each stanza in Maqam Mahour is at a high tone, instead of a low tone; that is, it starts lower and ends higher. The word Ma'hour means chagrinned and disappointed in Arabic. The maqam expresses anxiety and emotional distress. This maqam is only used twice a year; on the Shabbats of Toledot and Balaq. During these two perashas, both Esau and Balaq are disappointed and angered. Mahour should also be used for Shabbat Sheqalim, and according to Gabriel Shrem and his family, it should also be used for Parashat Vayigash.
Maqam
Mahour, or in Egypt, Nagham Kerdan, is the same scale as Maqam Rast, but in the
early 20th century practice, the term "Rast" was often use to actually mean
Suznak. The term Mahour/Kerdan also usually implies that the upper part of
the scale will be developed. This maqam originated in Persia (Iran), and therefore it was named after Persia, which translates to Ajam in Arabic. Ajam is the Arabic equivalent of the Western Major scale. This maqam is linked with festivity and joyousness. There are many patriotic tunes in this maqam. It contains many pizmonim that are associated with holidays and weddings. We apply this maqam to the prayers on the second days of the Yom Tob (Pesah, Shabuot, and Succot), Perasiot Vayetze, Beshallah, and Shofetim, as well as the Sheba Berakhot of all weddings. In Perashat Vayetze, Jacob marries his wives (wedding) and therefore this maqam is used. Ajam is closely related to the true meaning of song so we use it for Beshallah (Shabbat Shira) and the Seventh Day of Passover because we read the section of "Az Yashir" from the Torah on those days. It is used on Shofetim to mark the joyous event of choosing a king. It is also used for Simhat Torah, which is a day that represents happiness and joy. Ajam trichord: starting on B.
نهاوند
Nahwand
tetrachord: starting on C
بياتي
Maqam Bayat is a slumber sounding maqam and doesn't necessarily imply a given theme. Maqam Bayat is the most common of the Syrian Maqamat. More songs in the pizmonim book are classified under this maqam than any other. This maqam has a mellow mood to it and therefore is used for Arbit Mossae Shabbat and Mossae Yom Tob when the mood of ending the day is such. Bayat symbolizes an oath between two parties (as is the case with Bar Mitzvah- an oath between man and God). Bayat is associated with the occasion of a Bar Mitzvah due to its wealth of Bar Mitzvah pizmonim. It is also used on Mossaei Shabbat due to its wealth of Mossaei Shabbat pizmonim. Bayat is used for both the celebrations of Baby Girls and the Bar Mitzvah. A possible explanation for this is that daughter in Hebrew is BAT, which sounds somewhat similar to Bayat.
The Jews of
Damascus use this maqam to close a Humash.
Bayat tetrachord: starting on D
الحسيني
The word "Hosn" means beauty and splendor, and that it why it is the maqam used
when commemorating the giving of the Torah. This maqam is a higher version
of Maqam Bayat. Hoseni (or Hosini) is closely associated with receiving the
Torah. On Shabuot, the holiday that commemorates the receiving of the Torah,
we read Megilat Ruth. The ta'amim for this megila are in Maqam Hoseni, and
so is the tune for the Azharot, chanted on Shabuot. Hoseni is used for
Perashiot Yitro and Va‘ethannan which both have the Decalogue (Ten
Commandments) within the perasha. This maqam is also used many times
throughout the book of Exodus usually in connection with the receiving of
the Torah motif and Tabernacle (mishkan) beauty motif. According to
Moshe Ashear, Hoseni is used for Shabbat HaHodesh.
Maqam Rahawi Nawah -
מקאם
רהאוו נאווה
رهاونوى
Maqam Rahawi Nawa symbolizes the end of something. Nawah and
Rahaw are two different maqams. Nawah is the maqam used to chant mishnayot
as well as the maqam of the Kabbalat Shabbat and Arbit of Shabbat services.
The last verse of Psalm 93, "lebetecha nava kodesh...", which is said prior
to Kaddish on Friday night, alludes to Maqam Nawah, because nava read
in the Syrian-Hebrew manner would be nawa and not nava. Nawah is suggested to be used
on Friday night also because Mishnah ("Bameh Madlikin") is said during
Kabbalat Shabbat.
Rahaw is the maqam of the Pesah Haggadah as
well as the pizmon “Emounim 'Irkhu Shebah” therefore it is closely
associated with Pesah, and we use it for Shabbat Morning prayers on Shabbat HaGadol, the Shabbat prior to Pesah.
Nikriz pentachord: starting on C
صبا
The Arabic word Sabi means baby boy, and this is why Maqam Saba is used for the Berit Milah (circumcision). Saba is used for perashiot that contain either births, covenants (berit), a multitude of laws, the mention or reference to an army (Saba), or the actual word Saba within the perasha. The following are the Perashiot: Lekh Lekha (Isaac’s Birth), Vayishlah (Jacob’s covenant with God), Mishpatim (multitude of laws), Tazria (birth of a baby boy), Qedoshim (multitude of laws), Naso (the mentioning of the word Saba in reference to the Sotah), Pinehas ("Berit Shalom" between Pinehas and God and also the traditional association between Pinehas and the Prophet Eliyahu of which is connected to the Berit Milah), Mas'ei (traveling from place to place-something armies do), and Ki Tese (mentioning of armies, which is Saba in Hebrew). Maqam Saba is also used on Shemini Aseret (Eighth Day of Succot) and the Eighth Day of Passover, because the number eight is heavily associated with the concept of covenant (berit). The Jews of Damascus also use this maqam to express sad events (like the way Jews of Aleppo use Maqam Hijaz).
Saba tetrachord: starting on D
سيكاه
Maqam Sigah (Sikah), from the
Persian for "third place", is applied when there are special Torah readings.
This maqam is usually
used for the weekday prayers as well as the Syrian way of chanting the Torah
with the cantillations. This maqam is also used on the first days of the Shalosh
Regalim (holidays) and perashiot relating to Menorah, Kohanim, and the
building of the mishkan. In addition to that, there is an entire selection
of pizmonim that are related to Purim that come from this Maqam, and that is
why this maqam is used the Shabbat prior to Purim (Shabbat Zachor). Sigah is used for the following Shabbats and for the following reasons: Miqes is always the Shabbat during Hannukah- a holiday that is associated with the Menorah. Tesave discusses the clothing and ornaments of the Kohen HaGadol in the mishkan. Emor discusses the laws pertaining to the Kohanim, as well as the laws of the holidays. Behaalotekha mentions the Menorah in the beginning of the perasha. Ki Tabo discusses the reading of the Torah when entering the new land.
Other maqamot in the Sigah family are: Oj, Iraq, Huzam, and Sigah Baladi.
Sigah trichord: starting on E
حجاز Hijaz refers to Saudi Arabia, which in Arabic is still known as the Hijaz. This maqam, which originated in Saudi Arabia, is linked with death, and is used to mark sad occasions that occur on the calendar, as well as sad occasions that occur in a given perasha. We use this maqam on the following Shabbats: Hayye Sarah mentions the death of Sarah and the death of Abraham later in the perasha. Vayehi mentions the death of Jacob and the death of Joseph later on. Ki Tissa discusses the tragedy of the Golden Calf. Aharei Mot mentions the deaths of Aaron's children, Nadab and Abihu. Shelah Lekha mentions the spies, and the punishments that followed. Debarim has no sad event within the perasha, however, Hijaz is used because it falls out on the Shabbat before Tisha B'Av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. According to the Jews of Damascus, the only Shabbat of the year that Hijaz is used is Parashat Debarim. According to Gabriel Shrem, Hijaz in its purest form should only be used for Parashat Debarim, and for the rest of the weeks, Hijaz should be mixed with Bayat. The Jews of Damascus only use Hijaz for Shabbat Debarim. Other maqamot in the Hijaz family are: Shahnaz, Suzidil, or Zanjaran. Hijaz
tetrachord: starting on D
Other Maqams Maqam Sasgar- Saz kar in Arabic; consists of only two songs by Taboush. Maqam Lami- Used for only two pizmonim, both attributed to Moshe Ashear. It is a "sophisticated" Iraqi maqam not used in either Egypt or Syria, with a "gauzy, airy, light sound", Maqam Ushayran/ Ashiran- consists of 2 pizmonim; one by Taboush and one by Ashear. Maqam Awj/ Oj- within the Sigah family. Maqam Iraq- This maqam is said to date from the thirteenth century and is also called "Sikah tamm" Maqam Jiharkah- Many people confuse this maqam with Ajam. Jiharkah melodies are said to be mainly of Western origins. The maqam dates from the fifteenth century and is still used in modern Arab practice. Maqam Kurd-
Characterized a "weak maqam" and little used. According to Joey
Mosseri, this maqam was unknown to the Halabiyeh. "It was probably unknown to
all inhabitants of Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Eress Yisrael. I have a very old
book of Arabic songs and there is nothing there |
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