22 – Maqam (Tarz) Ali Ali (“Ali, Ali”)

Range: C, D, E♭.

Time signatures in the metric sections: 2/4.

Tuning: Haft Dastan or Barz (C, C, G)

This maqam (a melodic-modal piece of the tanbur repertoire) has a fairly fast two-beat metre which, according to Heydar Kaki, is accompanied by hand-clapping; like the maqam Yar Davud, it is performed as call and response. The sarband (refrain) of this maqam is the first couplet:

Ali Ali Ali Ali

Mawlam Ali Ali Ali

Our master is Ali.

According to Ali Akbar Moradi, this maqam is the zekr-e jali (audible invocation) of the Yarsan (Ahl-e Haqq). Unlike the zekr-e khafi (silent invocation), which is hidden, the zekr-e jali must be uttered openly with the tongue and made manifest. The text of the zekr is by Darvish Faregh, one of the Chehel Tan (the Forty) of Aseyed Barakeh, who was described earlier.