In the theory of Western music, a mode is a type of musical scale coupled with a set of characteristic melodic behaviors. Musical modes have been a part of western musical thought since the Middle Ages, and were inspired by the theory of ancient Greek music. The name mode derives from the Latin word modus, "measure, standard, manner, way, size, limit of quantity, method".
Azerbaijani music is the musical tradition of the Azerbaijani people, from Azerbaijan and Iranian Azerbaijan. It builds on folk traditions that reach back nearly 1,000 years. For centuries, Azerbaijani music has evolved under the badge of monody, producing rhythmically diverse melodies. Music from Azerbaijan has a branch mode system, where chromatisation of major and minor scales is of great importance.
Aziza Mustafa Zadeh is an Azerbaijani singer, pianist, and composer who plays a fusion of jazz and mugam with classical and avant-garde influences.
Fikret Mashadi Jamil oghlu Amirov was a prominent Azerbaijani composer of the Soviet period.
Bulbuljan, born as Abdulbagi Ali oglu Zulalov (1841–1927), was an Azerbaijani singer of folk music and mugam. He was also famous for his performance of Azeri mugams in other regional languages, such as Georgian, Armenian, Lezgian, Kumyk, Persian, and Russian.
Niyazi Zulfigar oglu Tagizade Hajibeyov (1912–1984) was a prominent Soviet Azerbaijani conductor, and composer of the renowned symphonic mugam "Rast".
Franghiz Ali-Zadeh is an Azerbaijani composer and pianist, currently living in Germany. She is best known for her works that combine the musical tradition of the Azerbaijani mugam and 20th century Western compositional techniques, especially those of Arnold Schoenberg and Gara Garayev. Her works have been performed by Yo-Yo Ma and the Kronos Quartet. On June 20, 2007, Ali-Zadeh was elected chair of the Composers' Union of Azerbaijan.
The International Mugham Center of Azerbaijan is a center of Azerbaijani arts and music aiming to promote, preserve and popularize the specific genre of Azerbaijani music, mugham. It is located in Baku Boulevard, in downtown Baku.
The International World of Mugham Festival is an annual music festival of Azerbaijani mugham music.
The Azerbaijani tar and the skills related to this tradition play a significant role in shaping the cultural identity of Azerbaijanis. The Tar is a long-necked plucked lute, traditionally crafted and performed in communities throughout the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Iranian Azerbaijan region. The tar features alone or with other instruments in numerous traditional musical styles. It also considered by many to be the country’s leading musical instrument.
“Shur”(Persian: شور) – is one of the great Dastgahs of seven main modes in Persian music. In comparison with Shur of the beginning of the 20th century, in the modern Shur many parts are not used. Modern Shur consists of parts (shobe) such as Maye, Kur-Shahnaz, Bayati-Kurd, Shikesteyi-fars, Mubarriga, Semayi-shems, Hijnaz, Sarenj and Nishibi-feraz. Some performers of Shur use little parts such as Buselik, Ashiran and Shah Khatai.
Rast is a musical modal system in traditional mugham music.
Segah is a musical modal system in traditional mugham music.
Shushtar is a musical modal system in traditional mugham music.
Dastgāh-e Homayun is one of the seven Dastgāhs of Persian Music.
Dastgāh-e Chahārgāh is one of the seven Dastgāhs of Persian Music. Classically, Persian Music is organized into seven Dastgāhs and five Āvāzes, however from a merely technical point of view, one can consider them as an ensemble of 12 Dastgāhs.
Bayaty-Shiraz is a musical modal system in traditional mugham music.
The Jazz mugham is a variant of a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing Azerbaijani jazz with mugham, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations, often using wind and vocal music and displaying a high level of instrumental technique.
Sara Gadimova Sara Gadimova, who started her career as a soloist of the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Society in 1941, was recognized as a singer in a short time thanks to her unique talent and gained great love for the audience. The song "Compassionate sister", which was created by Uzeyir Hajibeyov and Samad Vurgun in the Second World War, was read by the singer before the Azerbaijani soldiers on the frontline. Hero became an embodiment of the Azerbaijani woman. Noted particularly for her dastgah performance, which excelled other female dastgah performances, she also sang Bayaty-Shiraz, Karabakh shikastasi and other mugham varieties. Gadimova toured twenty two foreign countries. She was awarded the Sharaf Order and Shohrat Order.
