Nihavend makam
One of the most used makams in Turkish music, on Rast (G). With the Kürdi tetrachord above, its scale sounds close to G minor, which makes it familiar to players of Western music too.
At a glance
- Karar (tonic)
- Rast (G)
- Güçlü (strong note)
- Nevâ (D)
- Yeden (leading note)
- Irak (F♯)
- Seyir (melodic direction)
- descending–ascending (inici–çıkıcı)
- Key signature (donanım)
- B küçük mücennep flat (5 komas), E küçük mücennep flat (5 komas)
- Scale (dizi)
- a Buselik pentachord on Rast, with a Kürdi (or Hicaz) tetrachord on Nevâ: Buselik moved to Rast
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.
-
1 G
On the clarinet: G4 · played as written
-
2 A
On the clarinet: A4 · played as written
-
3 B
B küçük mücennep flat (5 komas)
On the clarinet: B♭4
-
4 C
On the clarinet: C5 · played as written
-
5 D
On the clarinet: D5 · played as written
-
6 E
E küçük mücennep flat (5 komas)
On the clarinet: E♭5
-
7 F
On the clarinet: F5 · played as written
-
8 G
On the clarinet: G5 · played as written
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.
Nihavend in Dizek
When you scan a piece in Nihavend, pick “Nihavend — B♭ E♭” 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 Nihavend, play it tonight
Get DizekSources
Makam theory after the Arel–Ezgi–Uzdilek system, as described by TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi and Klarnet Park.