Exploring Arabic and Turkish musical scales (Maqaamat)

with Jesse Manno from Sherefe

-Open to all, no instrument or talent required-

European and American music divides an octave into 12 precisely equidistant tones, creating all its music from combinations of those notes. As brilliant and soul shaking as this music can be, it essentially uses only primary colors to make its paintings with. Music from around the Fertile Crescent is much more subtle, using up to 3 times as many notes per octave. In this workshop, we will explore these microtonal colors, why they have thrived despite heavy western influence, and how they affect our body and spirit. A keen musical ear will enhance the experience, but anyone can appreciate the cultural and theoretical aspects of these ancient scales.