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Ahmed Mukhtar - Source: The Road to Baghdad
This piece depicts an peacefull life free of disputes. It is based on maqam Ajam wich was widely.
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Ahmed Mukhtar - Source: Rhythms of Baghdad
This an original composition by Ahmed Mukhtar. The piece encompasses various different Maqams and has a free rhythm. It describes scene of Iraqi refugees on the ocean in the middle of the night looking for a land to seek refuge in.
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- Source: The Road to Baghdad
In Iraq the cafe is a calm and safe place centeral to social life and social interaction. In the cafe traditional music ( Maqam) is performed and being listining to and appreciated. The piece is based on Maqam Bayat (D, E half Flat ''Microtone'' F, G, A, Bb, C D. in a rhythm called sangil Sama'i.
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Ahmed Mukhtar - Source: Rhythms of Baghdad
Chopi is an old dance and popular rhythm in Iraq, used by Bedouins and Arab people. It is a composition by Mukhtar based on Maqam Byati and is played in a special way in Iraq.
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Ahmed Mukhtar - Source: The Road to Baghdad
This piece based on Maqam Nahawand (an ancient Itaqi Maqam)expresses the feeling of the composer while he is travelling back to Baghdad after long years of absece. He experiences mixed feelings of sadness and apprehension of not finding Baghdad the same aswhen he left, and at the same time anticipation and happiness about retuning to this beautiful city.
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Ahmed Mukhtar - Source: The Road to Baghdad
This piece tells about ancient Baghdad duting the Ottman period(1299-1923 AD), the time of the classical form and music. The composition is based on Maqam Kurd (D,Eb,F,G,A ,Bb ,C ,D) and there are many modulation to other maqams. The rhythm Sama'ai thaqil (10/8) is very old and comes from the Abbasid period ( 750-1258 AD). It actually represents one of the very important periods in the history of Baghdad. Usually the introduction- four bars in 10/8 rhythm - should be composed, but in this instance Mukhtarleft the player to improvise these four bars, to allow him to be part of the composition. it iscustomary that every movement should contain one maqam, but in this piece two maqam are played in every movement. The composer created a special rhythm for the fourth movement and called it ''Mukhtar rhythm''
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Ahmed Mukhtar - Source: The Road to Baghdad
Doulab literally means ''wheel'' ot '' cilcle''. This is a short introductory instrumental composition. The Doulab sets the mood for a maqam and is intrended to establish its special character such as its structure of intervals and the emotion or atmosphere attached it.
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Ahmed Mukhtar - Source: Rhythms of Baghdad
Three very old rhythms joined together, all in same key signature: Keef, Janoubi and Masshi, ornamented with a percussion solo in khashabah, an old style dancing style from Basra City in the south of Iraq.
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Ahmed Mukhtar - Source: Rhythms of Baghdad
Mukhtar's composition depicting an Iraqi wedding at the moment when the bridegroom arrives at the bride's home to accept her from her family. All the guests and relatives form both families are dancing while groom and bride are looking at each other shyly. Written in Maqam Ajam in a rhythm called Malfoof.
