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Bayati Pathways: Nahawand 4 & Ajam 6

Nahawand 4 and Ajam 6 are the closest ajnas to Bayati, so close that actual "modulation" among them is often quite ambiguous. Sometimes the Nahawand is so strong (see "Ba3eed 3annak" #29 below), or the Ajam is so strong (See "Samai Bayati" #29-#32 below), that we can clearly identify them as distinct tonicizations. But more often, as you will see below, melodies flow continuously through these ajnas without a clear break, or a definitive tonicization. I find that I can hear alternate options for how to parse many of these melodies. One of the most emblematic Bayati melody patterns is a descent from the 6th scale degree (6-5-4-3--5-4-3-2--4-3-2-1 and variants on that; the Taslim of "Samai Bayati" is basically this melody elongated), and to determine whether it begins on Ajam 6, or the third degree of Nahawand 4, or the 6th degree of Bayati 1, is not always easy or definitive. All three of these ajnas overlap each other. A Western-trained musician will note that the relationship between Nahawand 4 and Ajam 6 is the same as the "Relative Minor to Relative Major" relationship--a relationship that rarely occurs elsewhere within the maqam system, but one which is prominent and ambiguous within Bayati (see especially the opening of the famous song "Ah Ya Hilu"). Therefore, all I can say about the analyses below is that they are my best attempts, and those of which I am least confident among all those presented on this site.

Nahawand 4 pathways

From "Nura Nura"

05

06

could also call "Husseini/Nahawand"--emphasis on 5

07

lazima

08

From "Samai Bayati il-3ariyan"

22

23

49

50

51

From "Taheya"

02

Husseini is the unresolved emphasis on 5 starting this melody

03

repeating the last few notes of #02; descent from 6

05

06

From "Ah Ya Hilu"

11

12

From "Ba3eed 3annak"

02

also strong emphasis on Ajam 6, with notes underneath

03

04

strong Ajam 6

05

06

alternate parse of 02-05; typical Nahawand to Bayati descent from 6

14

prominent emphasis on 7

15

16

ending of first verse, starting instrumental of verse 2

17

prominent 6 & 3 within melody

18

19

20

21

a pity to cut up further this incredibly beautiful melody!

28

29

finally, an extended Nahawand that doesn't fall back into Bayati


Ajam 6 & Nahawand 4 with Bayati

From "Samai Bayati il-3ariyan"

08

could also call "2nd Ajam 3/6"; tonic is 6, but note span 3-6

09

"Husseini" = emphasis on 5 descent to 4

10

11

a.k.a. "Secondary Ajam 3/6"

12

13

44

though it is really only the note "6"

45

includes dip down to 3 under tonic of 4 (also typical)

46

47

48

admittedly, first 3 notes could be parsed as 2nd Ajam 3/6

49

60

not very strong--perhaps Nahawand 4 or Ajam 6 are felt more?

61

could make #60 retroactively feel like 2nd Ajam 3/6

62

dips down to 2 & 3

From "Taheya"

14

15

16

17

opening Ajam emphasis; same as #14-15

18

19

descent from 6

20

starts on 6, although admittedly tonicization not strong

From "Ah Ya Hilu"

01

02

03

(or Ajam 6)

04

alternate parsing

05

(or 2nd ajam 3/6)

06

07

From "Ba3eed 3annak"

06

typical Nahawand to Bayati descent from 6

07

first real Ajam, even though hinted before

08

this Lazima is easy to confuse with Kurd 1; however, emphasis is on Ajam 6

09

wrapping it all into Ajam

10

prominent inclusion of notes under Nahawand (2 & 3)


Ajam in both octaves

From "Samai Bayati il-3ariyan"

27

inclusion of 7 within jins

28

29

30

31

32

33

starts with flat-6 above Nah.; could be parsed as Kurd 8

34

also including Taslim: descent 6 to 1

From "Ah Ya Hilu"

14

15

16

As above, feeling of Husseini 5 and Ajam 3

17

melody variant, dipping to octave below of Ajam

18

19

20

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