Erbil, Wednesday (May 13, 2026)
Today, Asst. Lecturer Sherzad Ahmed Marouf presented a scientific seminar for the Department of Music at the College of Fine Arts entitled “The Structural Form of the Main Kurdish Maqams,” highlighting the artistic characteristics and foundations of maqam in Kurdish music.
During the seminar, the three main structural dimensions of maqam form were discussed in detail: the “Introduction (Tahrir)” as the opening section that establishes the vocal scale, the “Middle Section” as the stage of modulation and expansion, and the “Conclusion (Taslim),” through which the maqam reaches its complete ending.
The seminar also emphasized the distinctive features of various maqams, including “Rast” as the most fundamental and calm maqam, “Bayat” as an emotional and melancholic maqam, and “Sega,” which expresses joy and delight. Another part of the seminar addressed the regional differences between the maqams of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, noting that the Erbil style is recognized for its strong and deep vocal delivery, while the Sulaymaniyah style is known for its soft and delicate tones.
The seminar also referred to the role of prominent maqam performers such as Ali Mardan, Tahir Tofiq, and Rasul Gardi in preserving this heritage. In conclusion, it was stressed that Kurdish maqam forms should be safeguarded as a national and cultural identity through scientific documentation and audio-visual recording for future generations.
