Hüzzam makam
A compound makam resting on Segâh, the B one koma flat. Its half cadence on Nevâ has the Hicaz colour (Nevâ, Hisar, Eviç), and its full cadence on Segâh usually leans on the leading note Kürdî (A bakiye sharp). Every degree but Çârgâh, Nevâ and Gerdaniye is a koma note, which makes it one of the hardest makams for a Boehm clarinet.
At a glance
- Karar (tonic)
- Segâh (B)
- Güçlü (strong note)
- Nevâ (D)
- Yeden (leading note)
- Kürdî (A♯)
- Seyir (melodic direction)
- descending–ascending (inici–çıkıcı)
- Key signature (donanım)
- B koma flat (1 koma), E bakiye flat (4 komas), F bakiye sharp (4 komas)
- Scale (dizi)
- a Hüzzam pentachord on Segâh, with a Hicaz tetrachord on Eviç (and a Hümayun scale on Nevâ)
The scale, note by note
As written in Turkish notation. Under each note: its koma accidental, if any, and the nearest clarinet note, with its Boehm fingering.
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1 B
B koma flat (1 koma)
On the clarinet: B4
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2 C
On the clarinet: C5 · played as written
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3 D
On the clarinet: D5 · played as written
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4 E
E bakiye flat (4 komas)
On the clarinet: E♭5
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5 F
F bakiye sharp (4 komas)
On the clarinet: F♯5
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6 G
On the clarinet: G5 · played as written
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7 A
A bakiye sharp (4 komas)
On the clarinet: A♯5
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8 B
B koma flat (1 koma)
On the clarinet: B5
Playing koma notes on the clarinet
A Boehm clarinet has no keys for koma accidentals. Players take the fingering of the nearest note and bend the pitch with the embouchure or an alternative fingering, listening for the makam’s colour. The scale above shows which notes need it.
Hüzzam in Dizek
When you scan a piece in Hüzzam, pick “Hüzzam — E♭ F♯ (koma flat rounded)” as the key on the scan screen. Dizek reads the koma accidentals as the nearest flats and sharps, writes the note names in Turkish if you like, and transposes for your clarinet, including the G clarinet.
Photograph a page in Hüzzam, play it tonight
Get DizekSources
Makam theory after the Arel–Ezgi–Uzdilek system, as described by TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi and Klarnet Park.