<< Previous Section: I. Basic Ajnas ^ Current Section: II. Jins Baggage ^ Next Section: III. Unnamed Ajnas >>

Bayati & Hijaz Baggage

Jins Bayati and Jins Hijaz have many traits in common, including their baggage both underneath and above.

Baggage underneath Jins Bayati

Listen (again, use this as ear training) for the melodies that dip two steps below the tonic of Bayati, and you will hear that the 7th scale degree (one step below the tonic) is a whole-step below the tonic, while the 6th scale degree is a "3/4" step below that--another "sikah" or "quarter-tone" note.

From "Taheya" dance instrumental, #10 & #12

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 Aruh Li Meen, #37 & #39 (and notice the difference in notes underneath the tonic for #36 & #38):

36

37

also includes 3-4-5

38

39


Similar examples of baggage underneath Jins Hijaz

The baggage underneath Hijaz is identical to that underneath bayati:

From Muwashshah "Ya Shadi il-Alhan", #03 & #09

02

03

melody dips below down to 3

08

09

From Hayrana Leh, #27

26

27

stretches from 3 up to 9

Ghannili Shwayya, #08

07

08

melodic inclusion of 3 & 4


Baggage above Jins Bayati & Jins Hijaz

Melodies in Jins Bayati and Jins Hijaz frequently stretch up to their 5th and 6th scale degrees above the tonic. Although these melodies often tonicize the 4th scale degree (with Jins Nahawand), just as often we can feel that the tonic of Bayati and Hijaz is stronger, so it is more proper to say that these notes lie within the expanded orbit of Hijaz or Bayati. The 6th scale degree is low, a half-step up from the 5th scale degree, making it different than the 6th scale degree in the octave below the jins tonic, where it is higher, a quarter-tone note (see above).

From Gameel Gamaal, #06 & #08 illustrate Bayati

05

06

Bayati descent from its 6th degree

07

08

Also from Gameel Gamaal, #25 & #27 illustrate Hijaz

24

25

lazima descends from 6 above Hijaz

26

27

From "Harramt Ahibbak," illustrating Hijaz:

05

06

descending from flat 6


Many of the examples given in Maqam Bayati are ambiguous enough that alternate parsings could be given. For example, in the example below from "Samai Bayati il-3ariyan" I offer two valid parsings of the Taslim:

The first parsing breaks up the descent into Ajam 6, Nahawand 4, & Bayati 1 (#08-#10)

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

While the second parsing wraps the entire descent from 6 down to 1 as Jins Bayati 1 (#21)

21

alternate parse of 08-11: bayati descent from 6

22

23


Finally, here are examples within Maqam Zanjaran, using the flat-6 above the root Jins Hijaz to "erase" the raised 6, which is the third scale degree of Ajam 4.

From Mawwal Zanjaran "Amana Ya Leil", #03, #10, #13

02

03

use of flat-6, contrasting with Ajam

09

10

flat 6 in lower (root) Hijaz jins

11

12

13

flat-6 again


Modifications to Baggage under Bayati & Hijaz

In several cases, the expected jins baggage underneath Bayati and Hijaz (a half-flat 6th scale degree two steps underneath the tonic), is modified by the prevailing Maqam. The melodies in Bayati and Hijaz still stretch down to the 6th degree underneath the tonic, but that degree is raised to a natural note, for Jins Bayati on the octave in Maqam Bayati Shuri, and for Jins Hijaz on the octave in maqam Zanjaran. Compare these melodies with those at the top of the page.

for Jins Bayati, From Muwashshah "Hibbi Da3ani lil-Wisaal", #02

01

melody stretches from 3 up to 8

02

6th degree maintains Hijaz tuning

For Jins Hijaz, from Muwashshah "Aya Daraha bil-Haqq", #02 & #04

01

02

including 6 & 7 underneath octave tonic

03

04

From Mawwal Zanjaran "Amana Ya Leil", #01, #04, #05 --and see most of the following examples of "Hijaz 8" from the remainder of the 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

<< Previous Section: I. Basic Ajnas ^ Current Section: II. Jins Baggage ^ Next Section: III. Unnamed Ajnas >>