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Makam

English translation: makam (a system of melody types)

09:19 Aug 23, 2012
Turkish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Music
Turkish term or phrase: Makam
I'm going to leave Makam , eg Saba Makam, in the original but I want to follow it with a brief explanation in English which can be understood by non-musicologists. The best I can come up with is "melody-type" but I don't really like that and I'm sure there must be something more appropriate. Any ideas?

Thanks
Gül Kaya
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:44
English translation:makam (a system of melody types)
Explanation:
This may be what you are looking for.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makam

“Makam (from the Arabic word مقام) In Turkish classical music, a system of melody types</p> called makam (pl. makamlar) provides a complex set of rules for composing and performance.”
Selected response from:

Tim Drayton
Cyprus
Local time: 12:44
Grading comment
I have actually decided to use a combination of two answers given here ie "a modal system of melody types..." I enquired whether it was possible to choose the two replies and was told no. So I haved decided on "a system of melody types" as I believe it encompasses more of the general short description I was after, if that makes sense. Thank you.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3Mode
ATIL KAYHAN
5 +1mode
Hulya A
5Modal system
Recep Kurt
5Makam
Nihan Pekmen
3 +1makam (a system of melody types)
Tim Drayton
5 -1Maqam
Salih YILDIRIM
Summary of reference entries provided
makam
Tim Drayton

Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
Mode


Explanation:
Mode of music: Muzigin makami

ATIL KAYHAN
Türkiye
Local time: 12:44
Native speaker of: Native in TurkishTurkish
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Atil bey tesekkur ederim ancak birebir ceviri kullanmayacagim, daha cok bir aciklama istiyorum. Mode bana biraz kuru geldi.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Bora Taşdemir: http://tureng.com/search/makam
2 mins
  -> Tesekkürler.
agree  Hulya A
6 mins
  -> Tesekkürler.
agree  Eser Perkins: Definitely.
6 mins
  -> Tesekkürler.
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2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
mode


Explanation:
..

Hulya A
Native speaker of: Native in TurkishTurkish, Native in SwedishSwedish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Eser Perkins: Definitely
5 mins
  -> tks
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45 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
makam (a system of melody types)


Explanation:
This may be what you are looking for.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makam

“Makam (from the Arabic word مقام) In Turkish classical music, a system of melody types</p> called makam (pl. makamlar) provides a complex set of rules for composing and performance.”


Tim Drayton
Cyprus
Local time: 12:44
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
I have actually decided to use a combination of two answers given here ie "a modal system of melody types..." I enquired whether it was possible to choose the two replies and was told no. So I haved decided on "a system of melody types" as I believe it encompasses more of the general short description I was after, if that makes sense. Thank you.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Özgür Salman: Since the asker needs a short description, I believe this is suitable.
2 hrs
  -> Thanks
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
Modal system


Explanation:
"Maqam" veya "modal system" diyebilirsiniz...

Ref-1:
"Maqam World is a non-commercial, educational web site dedicated to helping musicians understand the maqam or modal system used in classical Arabic music"


    Reference: http://www.maqamworld.com/
Recep Kurt
Türkiye
Local time: 12:44
Native speaker of: Native in TurkishTurkish
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
Makam


Explanation:
The Turkish makam is a compositional device which forms the basis for the melodic development of a piece of music and also provides some guidelines for its performance. The importance of the makam is evident from the fact that classical Turkish compositions are named and classified according to their makam, e.g. Rast peşrevi, Hicaz saz semaisi.


    Reference: http://www.turkishmusic.org/cgi-bin/d?what_is_a_maqam.html
    Reference: http://www.oud.eclipse.co.uk/makamlar.html
Nihan Pekmen
Türkiye
Local time: 12:44
Native speaker of: Native in TurkishTurkish
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3 days 1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): -1
Maqam


Explanation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makam

It can also be defined to be "Melody type"

Salih YILDIRIM
United States
Local time: 05:44
Native speaker of: Native in TurkishTurkish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Kim Metzger: "a system of melody types" was proposed three days earlier by Tim Drayton.
15 hrs
  -> Sind Sie verrück?
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Reference comments


36 mins peer agreement (net): +2
Reference: makam

Reference information:
Here is the entry in Redhouse dictionary:
"A concept of melodic creation which determines tonal relations, tessitura, starting tone, reciting tone and the finalis, as well as the overall indication of the melodic contour and patterns. Its closest counterpart in Western music is the medieval concept of mode."

Tim Drayton
Cyprus
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  Özgür Salman
3 hrs
agree  Nihan Pekmen
3 hrs
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