Makamlar: The Modal Scales of Turkish Art Music
An Introduction to the Turkish Makam
Language: English - ISBN: 9789403694313 - 90 pages
€27.90
Synopsis
TÜRK SANAT MÜZİĞİ - The Turkish art music, one of the greatest art musics in the world. Arabs and Persians both left deep traces in this music, which, despite its homophonic characteristic, indwells no harmony in the classical sense, has achieved an impressive harmonic richness and has, with the expansion of the Ottoman Empire in South-Eastern Europe and especially the Balkans, strongly influenced the music traditions of those countries (e.g., Bulgaria, Greece, a.s.o.).
This book contains over 50 of the most common makamlar and their scales along with their modulations. Besides, the Turkish comma system as well as the history of the scales and modes of Turkish art music, which can be traced from the Ottoman Empire through Arabia and Persia back to ancient Greece, is discussed in detail. It also describes the discrepancies between the music as it was performed in Ottoman times and how it is notated today.
About 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
| Binding | Paperback |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Publishing date | Thursday, 26 March 2026 |
| Edition | 1 |
| ISBN | 9789403694313 |
| Pagecount | 90 |
| Interior color | Black/white |
| Size | 210 x 297 mm |
| Author | Thomas Mikosch |
| Category | Art and culture > Other art and culture |