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Rast & Ajam Baggage

I suggest using this page as an ear training exercise. In the case of the "baggage" underneath Jins Rast, listen for the tonic, and then listen in the melody for the scale degrees underneath the tonic. In the case of the Jins Baggage above Jins Ajam and Jins Rast, listen for the 5th scale degree above the tonic (the traditionally defined upper boundary of these ajnas), and then listen for the notes above that within the melody--and verify for yourself that you still identify the same tonic, despite the melody having gone up to the 6th scale degree above it.

Baggage underneath Jins Rast

The "quarter-tone" note a step beneath the Rast tonic is a defining feature of this Jins. Whenever Jins Rast appears, this note/interval usually comes along. Melodies within Jins Rast occasionally dip a step below that as well, to scale degree 6 below the tonic.

From Samai Bayati il-3ariyan, #16

14

emphasis on 5--resolving to 4 in next phrases

15

16

includes baggage underneath 2 & 3

From Nura Nura, #13 & #20

11

12

"Husseini" Nahawand/ not parsing out bayati lawazim

13

19

final verse; equivalent to 12-15

20

From Ba3eed 3annak, #30

28

29

30

prominent modified notes under Rast tonic (2 & 3)


Baggage above Rast & Ajam

It is very common for both Jins Rast and Jins Ajam to be signalled by the prominent use of the raised (or natural) 6th scale degree above the jins tonic, when preceded by another jins such as Hijaz or Bayati on the 5th scale degree above that tonic, which includes a lowered (by flat or half-flat) note in the same position (2 relative to the Bayati or Hijaz, 6 relative to the Rast or Ajam a 5th lower). In other words, the natural 6 results from raising the lowered 6, and in a sense "erases" the feeling of Hijaz or Bayati, and leads us melodically down to the Rast or Ajam tonic. This phenomenon occurs both when Rast and Ajam are the primary jins of a Maqam, as well as when they are themselves secondary ajnas.

First, Rast

From "Taheya" dance instrumental, #11 & #13

09

full-octave descent through both ajnas

10

including baggage underneath, 7 - 6 - 7 - 8

11

use of raised 6 above Rast to descend

12

13

From Muwashshah "Sihtu Wajdan", #18

16

17

18

raised 6 to erase previous flat-6 of Hijaz

From Hayrana Leh, #14, #19, & #31

13

14

use of raised 6 to return

18

19

use of raised 6 to return

30

31

use of raised 6 to return

From Aruh Li Meen, #13

12

13

use of raised 6 to return


Similar Raised/Natural 6 above Jins Ajam

From Lissa Fakir, #04, #09 & #24

03

04

use of raised 6 to return

08

09

use of raised 6 to return

23

ending...

24

use of raised 6 to return

From Ya Halawt id-Dunya, #07, #19 & #28

06

07

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

08

18

doesn't resolve to root as hijazkar

19

use of raised 6 above Ajam 4

20

26

27

includes flat 6 above (= 9 relative Hijaz)

28

raised 6 above Ajam

29

From Muwashshah "Aya Daraha bil-Haqq", #05, #11 & #15

04

05

raised 6 above Ajam 4 (9 rel. Hijaz)

06

10

11

use of raised 6 above Ajam 4

12

14

15

Raised 6 above Ajam; Same verse ending

16

From Mawwal Zanjaran "Amana Ya Leil", #27, #54 & #68

26

27

Raised 6 above Ajam 4 (9 rel. Hijaz)

28

flat 6 above Hijaz

53

54

raised 6 above Ajam 4

55

67

ending on 7

68

raised 6 above Ajam 4

69

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