Summary of "Maqam Lesson 02: Jins Hijaz دروس في المقام - جنس حجاز"

Summary of “Maqam Lesson 02: Jins Hijaz دروس في المقام - جنس حجاز”

This lesson, taught by Sami Abusha Maze, focuses on understanding and embodying Jins Hijaz, one of the fundamental ajnas (building blocks) in Arabic maqam music. The lesson emphasizes both vocal and instrumental practice to internalize the unique melodic and intervallic characteristics of this jins.

Main Ideas and Concepts

Goal of the Lesson To help learners embody different ajnas in Arabic music, focusing on listening and vocal/instrumental practice rather than just theoretical knowledge.
What is Jins Hijaz?
- A jins is a group of notes forming a melodic fragment in maqam.
- Jins Hijaz is characterized by a distinctive mood and melodic contour.
- It is one of the most common ajnas in Arabic music.
Embodiment over Intellectualization
- Importance of feeling the melody and intervals in the voice or instrument.
- Avoid stopping mid-phrase to catch every detail; focus on the big picture and overall melodic feeling first.
Tonic and Important Notes
- The tonic is the note where melodies resolve and feel stable.
- The “ghammaz” (pivot note) in Hijaz is typically the 4th note of the scale, which feels very stable and important.
- Learners are encouraged to sing both tonic and ghammaz to internalize their roles.
Interval Characteristics
- The interval between the 2nd and 3rd scale degrees is notably large, bigger than a half step in Western music, which is a distinctive feature of Hijaz.
- This interval often causes confusion between Jins Hijaz and Jins Nahawand (covered in other lessons).
- Practice exercises involve repeating intervals vocally or on instruments to build muscle memory.
Melodies Emphasizing Scale Degrees
- Practice melodies that highlight each scale degree (1, 2, 3, 4).
- The 4th degree is emphasized in many Hijaz songs, creating a feeling of stability.
- The 3rd degree creates tension and suspension, often resolving to the 4th or the tonic.
- The lesson includes examples of popular Syrian and Iraqi songs using these melodic patterns.
Additional Notes Outside the Basic Jins
- Some melodies use notes beyond the traditional four-note jins (e.g., 5th, 6th, 7th degrees).
- The note called “Husseini” (5th degree) creates tension resolving back to the 4th.
- These variations illustrate the fluidity and complexity of maqam performance practice beyond rigid theoretical frameworks.
Relative vs. Absolute Pitch
- The lesson discourages focusing on absolute note names initially, instead encouraging learners to internalize relative intervals and functions within the jins.
- Hijaz is demonstrated on several tonic notes (C, D, G), showing how it transposes while maintaining interval relationships.
Resources and Further Study
- Learners are encouraged to listen to full songs featuring Jins Hijaz to hear how it appears in context.
- Additional materials and examples are available on websites like maqamworld.com and macaumlessons.com.
- The instructor’s book with Johnny Farage contains a detailed chapter on Jins Hijaz.

Methodology / Instructions

Step-by-step practice approach:

Repeat after the instructor Sing the melodic phrases as demonstrated to internalize the sound and feel.
Focus on the whole phrase Avoid stopping mid-phrase to catch every detail; instead, aim to capture the overall melodic contour and rhythm.
Identify and sing the tonic Learn to recognize the tonic note where melodies resolve.
Identify and sing the ghammaz (4th note) Practice singing this important pivot note that often feels stable.
Practice intervals vocally or on your instrument Repeat interval exercises to feel the difference between close intervals (half-step-like) and the larger interval between the 2nd and 3rd degrees.
Practice melodies emphasizing each scale degree Sing or play melodies that highlight the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th scale degrees, paying attention to the tension and resolution each creates.
Explore notes outside the traditional jins Experiment with melodies that include the 5th, 6th, and 7th degrees to understand common variations and extensions.
Transpose the jins to different tonics Practice Hijaz on different root notes (C, D, G) to develop flexibility and relative pitch awareness.
Listen to full songs featuring Jins Hijaz Use resources like maqamworld.com and the instructor’s book to hear Hijaz in real musical contexts.
Repeat and embody Regular repetition and active listening are key to truly internalizing the jins.

Speakers / Sources

Sami Abusha Maze – Instructor and narrator of the lesson.
Johnny Farage – Co-author of the book referenced in the lesson (not directly speaking but mentioned).
Mentioned websites/resources:
- maqamworld.com
- macaumlessons.com

This lesson is a practical, embodied approach to learning Jins Hijaz, encouraging learners to move beyond theoretical knowledge and develop a deep, intuitive understanding through listening, singing, and instrumental practice.