en-NL
Oriental Jazz Improvisation: Microtonality and Harmony

Oriental Jazz Improvisation: Microtonality and Harmony

Employing Turkish Makam, Arabic Maqam & North Indian Raga Scales and Modes
Thomas Mikosch
Thomas Mikosch
Language: English - ISBN: 9789403677033 - 140 pages
Paperback
Not available

Synopsis

Oriental Jazz Improvisation: Microtonality and Harmony is a comprehensive comparative study that explores the incorporation of Turkish, Arabic, and North Indian scales and modes into jazz improvisation and modulation. The book includes a multitude of scales and modes from these music cultures, along with their transpositions. These scales and modes are essential for any musician interested in South-Western Asian or North Indian music. Besides, the book delves into numerous scales and modes from other cultures' folk music, such as Greek rebetiko, Bulgarian wedding music, or Jewish music, highlighting parallels and similarities among these diverse music traditions. Each scale and mode is presented in its purest - microtonal - form, including the exact interval values in the particular tuning used in the classical Turkish, Arabic, or North Indian music tradition. Additionally, the basics of the respective music theories are imparted. Further, the genuine scales and modes are transcribed into equal temperament and several practical techniques are shown how to apply them in a jazz context.

About Thomas Mikosch

Thomas Mikosch
Thomas Mikosch is an ethnomusicologist and fretless guitar player with over 30 years of experience exploring musical traditions around the world. His work engages deeply with Romani, Jewish, Arabic, Turkish, and Indian music, and is complemented by rigorous study of ancient musical systems, including those of Greece and Babylonia. Having studied under master musicians, he combines practical insight with a strong historical and theoretical foundation. Beyond performance and analysis, he explores the philosophical dimensions of music—drawing on Sufi, Kabbalistic, and Indian mystical traditions—and its role in shaping human culture and meaning. His work reflects a lifelong quest to uncover the interrelations between sound, culture, and expression, guided by the belief that music can articulate what words often cannot. Through his writing, he invites students and readers alike on a journey into the universal language of music.

Product specifications

BindingPaperback
LanguageEnglish
Publishing dateWednesday, 8 April 2026
Edition1
ISBN9789403677033
Pagecount140
Interior colorBlack/white
AuthorThomas Mikosch
CategoryArt and culture > Musicology