DiArMaqAr

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Getting Started ​

Welcome to the Digital Arabic Maqām Archive (DiArMaqAr) documentation!

What is DiArMaqAr? ​

The Digital Arabic Maqām Archive (DiArMaqAr) is an open-source, multilingual, browser-based application and repository designed for musicians, composers, developers, and scholars engaged with Arabic maqām theory.

The application integrates an archive of historically documented tanāghīm (تناغيم, tuning systems), ajnās (أجناس, melodic segments), maqāmāt (مقامات, modal frameworks), suyūr (سيور, melodic pathways), and intiqālāt (انتقالات, modulations) within a unified digital framework, establishing verified reference data for education, performance, composition, software development, machine learning applications, and instrument design.

Key Features ​

  • multilingual Interface: Arabic/English (with Library of Congress Romanization standards)
  • Comprehensive Tuning Systems: Access to historical and modern tuning systems from the 9th century to present with historical source attributions
  • Maqāmāt and Ajnās Data: Complete database with modern source attributions
  • Tuning-System-Sensitive Transposition: Systematic computation of all mathematically valid ajnās and maqāmāt transpositions
  • Al-Shawwā Modulation Algorithm: First algorithmic implementation of Sāmī al-Shawwā's 1946 modulation guidelines
  • Bibliographic Attribution System: Complete source references with scholarly verification
  • Real-Time Audio Synthesis: Hear precise intonational relationships with Web Audio API
  • MIDI Integration: Support for MIDI input and MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) output
  • Data Export: JSON and Scala (.scl/.kbm) formats for research and composition
  • REST API: Programmatic access to all data

Cultural Framework ​

All functionality is rooted in the theoretical framework of Arabic maqām theory and its epistemological traditions. The system uses the historical Persian-Arab-Ottoman note naming conventions (rāst, dugāh, segāh, etc.) and supports tuning-system-aware transposition, ensuring precise intervallic relationships are preserved across all maqāmāt and ajnās.

Quick Start ​

Using the REST API ​

The easiest way to get started is using the REST API:

bash
# Get all maqāmāt
curl http://localhost:3000/api/maqamat

# Get specific maqām data with full details
curl "http://localhost:3000/api/maqamat/maqam_bayyat?tuningSystem=alfarabi_950g&startingNote=ushayran&pitchClassDataType=cents"

# Include modulation analysis on the maqām detail response
curl "http://localhost:3000/api/maqamat/maqam_bayyat?tuningSystem=alfarabi_950g&startingNote=ushayran&includeModulations=true"

# List transpositions (separate endpoint; `includeTranspositions` applies to GET /tuning-systems/{id}/{startingNote}/maqamat, not maqām detail)
curl "http://localhost:3000/api/maqamat/maqam_bayyat/transpositions?tuningSystem=alfarabi_950g&startingNote=ushayran"

Documentation Guide ​

Core Concepts ​

  1. Theoretical Framework - Understanding the conceptual hierarchy: Tanāghīm → Ajnās → Maqāmāt → Suyūr → Intiqālāt

  2. Tuning Systems - Learn about tanāghīm, mathematical representations, and historical sources

  3. Ajnās - Understanding ajnās (3-5 note sequences) as building blocks of maqāmāt

  4. Maqāmāt - Complete modal frameworks with ascending/descending sequences

  5. Suyūr - Traditional melodic performance pathways

Advanced Features ​

  1. Taṣwīr (Transposition) - Tuning-system-sensitive transposition of ajnās and maqāmāt

  2. Intiqāl (Modulation) - Al-Shawwā's modulation algorithm and network analysis

  3. Audio Synthesis - Real-time audio playback using Web Audio API

  4. MIDI Integration - MIDI input/output with MPE support for precise non-12-EDO playback

  5. Data Export - Export capabilities: JSON, CSV, Scala formats

Research and Methodology ​

  1. Research Applications - Use cases for computational musicology, ML/AI, and academic research

  2. Cultural Framework - Decolonial computing principles and culturally-specific methodology

  3. Bibliographic Sources - Complete source attribution system and scholarly verification

Next Steps ​

Resources ​

Digital Arabic Maqām Archive Documentation

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