Maqam Lessons تَحْليلُ المَقام
AnalysesZanjaran Analyses

Zanjaran Analyses

Zanjaran is fairly rare, but quite beautiful maqam, in which the bright Ajam emphasis descends to a darker Hijaz ending. Probably the only piece most musicians know in this maqam is the famous song "Ya Halawt id-Dunya," ("Oh Sweetness of the World,") whose lyrics are captured perfectly by the mood of this maqam. The 1928 Mawwal by Mohamed Abdel-Wahhab "Amana ya leil," explores the full potential available to this maqam, creating a unique series of pathways (see discussion on "Unique Pathways"). The full network represented on this site (not counting the distant departures and expansions used in "Amana Ya Leil") is as follows:

01

(Aya Daraha bil-Haqq)

10

(Aya Daraha bil-Haqq)

11

(Aya Daraha bil-Haqq)

12

(Aya Daraha bil-Haqq)

13

(Aya Daraha bil-Haqq)

17

(Ya Halawt id-Dunya)

18

(Ya Halawt id-Dunya)

19

(Ya Halawt id-Dunya)

20

(Ya Halawt id-Dunya)


Ya Halawt-id-Dunya

[song page with full recording]
Full analysis: Ya Halawt-id-Dunya

01

03

05

07

raised 6 above Ajam 4 (= 9 rel. Hijaz 1)

09

11

13

2nd Verse: Hijazkar

18

doesn't resolve to root as hijazkar

19

use of raised 6 above Ajam 4

21

23

25

flat 6 above Ajam

27

includes flat 6 above (= 9 relative Hijaz)

28

raised 6 above Ajam

30

32


Aya Daraha Bil-Haqq

[song page with full recording]

01

02

including 6 & 7 underneath octave tonic

03

05

raised 6 above Ajam 4 (9 rel. Hijaz)

07

melody repeat

09

11

use of raised 6 above Ajam 4

15

Raised 6 above Ajam; Same verse ending


Amana Ya Leil

[song page with full recording]

See discussion on "Unique Pathways" for a fuller understanding of what is happening in this mawwal:

01

starts underneath, prominent 6 & 7

02

03

use of flat-6, contrasting with Ajam

04

use of 6 & 7

05

(3rd degree of Ajam 4)

06

incl 6 & 7 under 8ve tonic

07

09

10

flat 6 in lower (root) Hijaz jins

12

13

flat-6 again

17

or could include within Hijaz 8 (no descent to 4)

19

20

no use of flat 6

22

24

start of mawwal

27

Raised 6 above Ajam 4 (9 rel. Hijaz)

28

flat 6 above Hijaz

29

30

wide span

31

33

Violin: Gameel 3uweis. 3-4--7-8 melody

35

37

38

end of violin tarjama

39

(octave of 4)

41

arrival at "Maqam" Ajam 4

45

50

descent to Ajam 4

51

52

long route here! (from #46)

53

tarjama only from #49

54

raised 6 above Ajam 4 (#50-#51)

60

(4-6-8) arpeggio

62

or Hijaz 8 with flat 6 above

65

= raised 6 relative to Ajam 4

66

no actual resolution to 4

67

ending on 7

68

raised 6 above Ajam 4

69

Wow!