Digital Arabic Maqām ArchiveDocumentation

What is DiArMaqAr? ​

The Digital Arabic Maqām Archive (DiArMaqAr) is an open-source, bilingual 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 (tuning systems), ajnās (tri/tetra/penta-chords), maqāmāt (complete modal frameworks), suyūr (melodic performance pathways), and intiqālāt (modulation practices) within a unified digital framework, establishing verified reference data for education, performance, composition, software development, machine learning applications, and instrument design.

Cultural Framework ​

The implementation operates entirely within Arabic theoretical frameworks and epistemological systems. All operations are grounded in the historical Persian-Arab-Ottoman note naming convention, with tuning-system-sensitive transposition capabilities that maintain intervallic integrity. This culture-specific methodology follows decolonial computing principles, avoiding Western-centric paradigms in digital musicology.

Key Features ​

Core Capabilities ​

• Comprehensive Tuning Systems: Historical systems from 9th century (Al-Kindī) through contemporary approaches, each with complete bibliographic attribution
• Maqāmāt and Ajnās Database: Complete database with source citations, page references, and scholarly commentary
• Tuning-System-Sensitive Transposition: Systematic calculation of all mathematically valid transpositions for any jins or maqām
• Al-Shawwā Modulation Algorithm: First computational implementation enabling exploration of modulation networks

Audio & MIDI ​

• Real-Time Audio Synthesis: Web Audio API integration with multiple waveforms, envelope control, and precise microtonal rendering
• MIDI Integration: Computer keyboard and MIDI controller input with 14-bit pitch bend precision
• MPE Support: MIDI Polyphonic Expression for accurate polyphonic microtonal playback in DAWs and hardware

Research & Export ​

• Data Export: JSON, CSV, and Scala (.scl/.kbm) formats with complete metadata
• Bibliographic Attribution: Complete source references with page numbers for academic citation
• Analytics Capabilities: Quantitative analysis tools for comparative studies
• Dataset Generation: Export all transpositions, modulation networks, and comparative analyses

Technical Architecture ​

• REST API: Comprehensive endpoints with flexible query parameters and multiple response formats
• TypeScript Library: Complete type-safe library with modular design
• Bilingual Interface: Arabic/English with Library of Congress Romanization standards
• Decolonial Computing: Culture-specific methodology prioritizing Arabic theoretical frameworks

Getting Started ​

Quick Start ​

1. Getting Started Guide - Introduction and overview
2. Theoretical Framework - Understand the conceptual hierarchy
3. Quick Start Tutorial - Hands-on examples
4. API Reference - Complete REST API documentation
5. TypeScript Library - Programmatic usage

Explore Features ​

• Taṣwīr (Transposition) - Systematic transposition capabilities
• Intiqāl (Modulation) - Al-Shawwā's modulation algorithm
• Audio Synthesis - Real-time audio playback
• MIDI Integration - MIDI input/output
• Data Export - Export capabilities
• Research Applications - Academic use cases

Resources ​

• Source Code - View on GitHub
• Music Intelligence Lab - Research lab website
• Interactive API Playground - Test endpoints
• Live Application - Interactive web interface

Documentation Structure ​

Core Concepts ​

Learn the fundamental theoretical framework: tuning systems, ajnās, maqāmāt, suyūr, and modulation practices.

Advanced Features ​

Explore sophisticated capabilities: transposition, modulation networks, audio synthesis, MIDI integration, and data export.

Research & Methodology ​

Understand research applications, cultural framework methodology, and bibliographic source attribution systems.