[DOWNLOAD] Makam Dances

This was originally a septet commissioned by Kibougaoka High School Wind Orchestra (Nakama City, Fukuoka) in 2012. An introduction was added and it was published as a wind band work.
Makam is a system of melody types founded around the 7th century in Arabic countries and Turkey. There are now many types of makam. This work uses one typical sound group (F - H - C - D - Eb). Percussion instruments have characteristic rhythms and ornamentations, and they also play a role of supplementing the wind instruments.
The composition consists of a rhythmically fast first half, a lush Middle Eastern style interlude, and a second half tempo depicting an energetic dance incorporating the whole tone scale and makam mode.