48 – Ha Ha 2 (“Yes, Yes”)

Range:

Ha Ha 1: C, D, E, F, G, A♭, B♭.

Ha Ha 2: D, E, F, G, A, B♭, C.

Time signatures in the metric sections:

Ha Ha 1: 11/8, 5/8.

Ha Ha 2: 15/8, 5/8.

Variable notes: A.

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

In the view of Ali Akbar Moradi, these maqams (melodic-modal pieces of the tanbur repertoire) go back to the fifth century AH (11th century CE), the time of Shah Khoshin of Lorestan. The text of Ha Ha 1 is transmitted from the Chehel Tan (the Forty), and that of Ha Ha 2 from the Bargah Bargah. The refrain (sarband) of these maqams is the very phrase “ha ha”.

According to Heydar Kaki, Ha Ha 1 is performed in 16-beat cycles (5+11) and Ha Ha 2 in 20-beat cycles (5+15). This researcher also stresses that although today’s listener likes to hear these maqams in the form of a metric rhythm, it is better, given their different accents and rhythmic cycle, to study them in terms of rhythmic cycles. Ha Ha 1 begins on the note G and Ha Ha 2 on the note A.

As for the text of the poem, it should be noted that, according to Heydar Kaki, the first couplet means that one should not be selfish, and the second couplet means that one should share everything equally and help people overcome their difficulties.