Durak, güçlü and points of repose

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Structure of makam

Durak and güçlü are important references in makam analysis. They should not be equated with Western tonic and dominant merely through convenient translations. The pitch, melodic approach and surrounding çeşni all matter when interpreting a point of repose.

Record intermediate resting gestures as well as the final note. A pitch may be transitional in one place and structurally important in another. This introductory explanation is not a formula for calculating every makam’s important pitches; consult the specific makam and its performance tradition.

Example

Compare note frequency with the ways phrases approach and rest on that pitch.

Try it

Is counting occurrences alone enough to identify güçlü?

Related topics

References

Makam — TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi

Subject-expert review pending.