The Great Book of Music

...and the numerical limits of their sequences, their types, the harmonies of notes in their consonances, and everything related to notes and their quantities, whether viewed individually or collectively.

The established principles in this science are a vital element upon which the understanding of harmonious notes harmonious notes: "al-nagham al-mu'talifa," notes that sound pleasing and consonant when played together. is based, as their consonances vary depending on how their quantities are composed within a ratio or a sequence.

2 — Science of Composition and Analysis:

This science is concerned with defining the types of melodic aggregates melodic aggregates: "al-jumu' al-lahniyya," the various groupings of notes, such as scales or chords., their ranks, and their genres. It examines the permutations and combinations between notes, the analysis of groups into their smallest constituent parts, and the locations of separations and transitions between notes.

In terms of poetry and language, this is similar to the breakdown of parts in metered speech into their foundational elements, such as "reasons," "pegs," and "intervals" These terms (asbab, awtad, and fawasil) are the technical building blocks of Arabic poetic meter, used here as an analogy for musical rhythm..

3 — Science of Musical Modes:

This is the science of the specific characters original: "tabu'," referring to the 'nature' or 'disposition' of a melody. of melodies whose primary notes are categorized within a specific group. It involves determining the genres of composition that govern the pitch levels to which the pipes of the throat original: "mazamir al-hanjara," a poetic technical term for the vocal apparatus or vocal cords. are bound when performing in a particular style.

A musical mode musical mode: "maqam," a system of melodic types and rules for improvisation and composition in Arabic music. is the pathway of its notes—their progression, their middle point, and their resolution within the vocal ranges. It is analogous to a "verse" in poetry. The structure of a mode usually consists of three parts:

"Root" original: "asl": These are the notes of the genre that dominates the melodic style at the end of the pitch range where the melody concludes.

"Branch" original: "far'": These are the notes of the genre that dominates the vocal pathway at the edge of the pitch range where the melody begins.

"Middle" original: "wasat": These are the notes of the genre that mediate between the initial pathway and the final resolution, acting as a metrical bridge original: "arud," a term borrowed from prosody referring to the meter of a poem. between them.