MAQAM PARAGRAPHS
Information from
Mordechai Nadaf and
Joseph Mosseri
Edited by David Betesh
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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 Mincha 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 Huseni. In the rare 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.
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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 higher
and ends lower. The word Ma'hour means chagrinned and disappointed in Arabic.
This maqam is only used twice a year; on the Shabbats of Toledot and Balak.
During these two perashas, both Esau and Balak are disappointed and angered.
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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 Shof’tim, 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 Perashat
Beshallah (Shabbat Shira) and the Seventh Day of Pesah because we read the
section of "Az Yashir" from the Torah on those days. It is also used for Simhat
Torah, which is a day that represents happiness and joy.
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Nahawand is the name of a place in Persia (Iran). This maqam was popular in Iran
and Turkey before it made its way down to Syria and Egypt. Nahawand is the
closest equivalent of the Western Minor Scale. The maqam is easy on the western
ear and encompasses modern day Israeli tunes. Contrary to most misconceptions,
this maqam is not related to Maqam Nawah.
Even though it is listed in the pizmonim book as a possible Shabbat maqam up to
seven times a year, this is a new innovation. All older listings, both
manuscripts and printed, fail to list Maqam Nahawand as an option. According to
Arabic music scholars, this maqam was considered off limits for holy use until
about 70 years ago when a well-respected Sheikh used it for the first time for
religious chanting. Since that time it has begun to make roadways in Aleppo's
Islamic and Jewish communities. This maqam was common among the Turks and
Aleppo's close proximity to Turkey would account for a number of older pizmonim
bearing Turkish musical origins.
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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 Motzaei Shabbat and Motzaei Yom Tob
when the mood of ending the day is such.
Bayat is associated with the occasion of a Bar Mitzvah due to its wealth of Bar
Mitzvah pizmonim. It is also used on Motzaei Shabbat due to its wealth of
Motzaei 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.
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HUSENI
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. Huseni (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 Huseni, and so is the
tune for the Azharot, chanted on Shabuot. Huseni 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.
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NAWAH -RAHAW
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 way 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.
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SABA
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), Kedoshim (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
Tetzse (mentioning of armies, which is Saba in Hebrew). Maqam Saba is also used
on Shemini Atseret (Eighth Day of Succot) and the Eighth Day of Pesah, because
the number eight is heavily associated with the concept of covenant (berit).
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SIGAH
Sigah (or Sikah)
is the maqam that is usually used for the weekday prayers as well as the Syrian
way of chanting the Torah with the Ta'amim. 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.
Sigah is used for the following Shabbats and for the following reasons: Miketz
is always the Shabbat during Hanukah- a holiday that is associated with the
Menorah. T’tzavveh 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.
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HIJAZ
Hijaz (or Hejaz) 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.