Basic knowledge of makams by Yorgos Mavromanolakis

Many of the workshops at the Musical Workshop Labyrinth focus on musical traditions which make use of the modal system of makams. The makam system has many branches and sometimes quite significant differences occur from one tradition to another but the basic concept is usually similar enough to enable musicians of different traditions to communicate their ideas to one another. The most commonly used makam system in the seminars at Labyrinth is that found in the contemporary Turkish tradition.  Many students have expressed a desire that we include in our program a course in basic knowledge of makams which would run parallel to the other seminars in which they participate. 

It is with great sadness that we learned today of the untimely death of Ustad Mohammed Rahim Khushnawaz, one of Afghanistan’s foremost rabab players and a personal friend who taught many seminars here at the Musical Workshop Labyrinth.

In this seminar, we will deal with the way we hear, the way we perceive music. As any amateur or professional musician can attest, music is a challenge which may demand one hundred percent of our attention and presence so that we may cope with a demanding circumstance, be it a lesson, a concert or a simple musical intercourse.