Work

About the Musical Legacy of Abdulqodir Maraghi: Reconstruction of Biography and Analysis of Musical-theoretical Heritage

Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the life, personality, and musical work of Abdulqodir Maraghi (1353-1435) -an outstanding music theorist, composer, and performer of the 14th-15th centuries, who made a significant contribution to the development of Eastern musical scholarship.Purpose: The purpose of this study is to reconstruct the biography of Abdulqodir Maraghi and analyze his role in the development of music theory. Method:The research employs historical-biographical, comparative, and source study methods.The primary sources are Maraghi's original treatises: "Câmiu'l-Elhân", "Makâsıdü'l-Elhân", "Şerhu'l-Edvâr", as well as chronicles of the Jalayirid, Timurid, and Ottoman periods.Results: Precise biographical data have been established: birthplace -Maragha (South Azerbaijan), date of birth -December 17, 1353.Key stages of his career at the courts of the Jalayirids, Timur, Shahrukh, and Ottoman Sultan Murad II have been identified.His major works, his contribution to the systematization of the 12 maqams and 24 shu'ba, as well as his pedagogical and compositional activities (over 30 works in the "nawbat-i murattab" form within one month) are examined. Scientific novelty:For the first time in a foreign VAK journal publication, a complete overview of Maraghi's life and work is presented, including his Turkic origin, the role of his father in his education, his relations with six ruling dynasties, as well as a translation of key fragments from his "award" (nishan) from Timur.It is demonstrated that Maraghi was a Turkic, not Persian, theorist.
Language: English
Subfield: Music
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7204681377
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