Maqamat appeared clearly in Arabic music when the Holy Qur’an appeared, and there are dozens of Arabic maqamat, but we will present the most important maqamat, which are eight, and some sub-maqams.
Maqam Rast: Rast in the Persian language means straightforwarddness. It is said that if your in night time you better play the Rast maqam. The maqam has many emotional expressions, the most prominent of which are strength and pride.
The most famous degrees of Rast are du, sol, fa, ri, and du is the first music pitch, and it is the most famous of them.
Among the songs on the Maqam Rast: Ya Msaharni, Ansak, by Umm Kulthum, Warqo elasfar, Ya Adara dory fina, Al Jisr el Lawziyeh by Fayrouz, kolly haja by Abdul Halim Hafez, Yamal al-Sham by Sabah Fakhri, Baad kontum, Lailat khamees, Maratny eldonya by Muhammad Abdo, Zalla el Tarab , Al yom yemken tekoly by Talal Maddah, Ala Allah tyood by Wadih Al-Safi.
Maqam al-Bayati: It is said that it comes from Iraq from the al-Bayati family, and it is considered the second pitch after Rast. examples songs like Sallony el nas , Jayb lee salam by Fayrouz, Ah ya helo, Ibatly jawab by Sabah Fakhri, Jana Al Hawa by Abdel Halim Hafez, Andak bahriya, Alail ya laila by Wadih Al Safi, Ahybbak lo tekon hader, Zaman elsamt, Makadeer by Talal Maddah, Bint Al Noor, Sayed Alghanadir, Asmar abar, by Muhammad Abdo.
Maqam al-Ajam(Major scale): It is a Western maqam that gives a sense of joy, glory and pride. One of the most famous degrees of it is Du, Sol, Fa, Si flat (Ajam Asheran). Examples of it are Lessah faker. Aghadan alkak by Umm Kulthum. Zoroni kol sana by Sayed Darwish. Ala el bal by Muhammad Abdo, El walaa ghanna by Talal Maddah, Hanna Al-Sakran, Ya Tayer by Fayrouz, Fatet janbina, Resala min taht el maa by Abdul Halim Hafez, Fe yom wa laila by warda eljazayria.
Maqam al-Nahwand(minor scale): It is a Western maqam in origin, and its character is light sadness and contemplation. Among its most famous degrees on the oud are Du, Sol, Re, and La.
Among the songs on Maqam al-Nahawand are sahar el laialy, “Al-Bint Al-Shalabiya” by Fayrouz, “Yam Musafir Wahdak” by Muhammad Abd al-Wahhab, “alby wa mefathoo” by Farid al-Atrash, “Alf laila wa laila”, “Lailet hob” by Umm Kulthum.
The Kurd maqam: it gives feeling of nostalgia, hope and romance. Among its most famous degrees are La, Re, Sol, Do, Mi.
One of the famous songs from Maqam al-Kurd is Inta omri, Amal hayati, Hayarti alby maak by Umm Kulthum, Nassam alina el hawa by Fayrouz, Saeb el swaal by Talal Maddah, Mahma yeekoloon, Kol ma nasns by Muhammad Abdo.
Maqam al-Hijaz: Its origin is from the Hijaz region in the Arabian Gulf, and it has the character of distance and loneleness, and it has a religious and emotional nature sometimes. Among its most famous degrees are la, re, sol, and du.
Among the most famous songs on Maqam al-Hijaz are “Hibina,” “Ma Qalli wa Qaltallah” by Farid al-Atrash, “Fouq al-Nakhl,” “Qadak al-Mayas” by Sabah Fakhri, “Ana bintezark” by Umm Kulthum, “Yasaria khbbyiny,” Saudi Folklore, “Habibi Ya Noor Al-Ain” by Amr Diab, “Bahlam beek,” “Asmar Ya Asmarani” by Abdel Halim Hafez, “Rohy ya nesma" by George Wassouf.
The Sikah Maqam: It is the only maqam that consists of the Sikah tabea(only 3 notes ), then the jins of Rast, and it is the only maqam start with quarter tone, called Zelzal.
If jins was hijaz then, it is called Rahat al-Arwah (si half flat) or hozam (me half flat).
Among the most famous songs of Maqam al-Hazzam are “Laylat mbareh” by Sayyid Makkawi, “Belba lek shak el almas,” “Habibi Bado al-Qamar” by Fayrouz, “olly amalak aeh allby” by Muhammad Abd al-Wahhab,Ya ainy ala sabr by Wadih Al-Safi
Maqam al-Saba: It is a maqam that has the character of intense sadness and pain, and the most famous of its degrees are La, Re, and Sol.
Among the songs on Maqam al-Saba are Hoa Sahih al-Hawa Ghalab by Umm Kulthum, El amaken, Anwart Soudat Asir by Muhammad Abdo, Kalasat el kessa Talal Maddah.