20 – Maqam (Tarz) Lami Lami (“O Absolute Light”)

Range: C, D, E♭, F, G♭.

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

This is one of the kalam maqams – sacred maqams (melodic-modal pieces of the tanbur repertoire) sung to the sacred verse of the Yarsan (Ahl-e Haqq) – which, according to Heydar Kaki, “in its melodic movement and the intervals it uses closely resembles the maqam ‘Beyan va Yari’. The melodic movement of this maqam is relatively complex, and players and kalam singers can perform it only with difficulty. Although this maqam and the remaining maqams are in free metre, their rhythm must be sought in the rhythmic cycles that were used in old music.” The sarband (refrain) of this maqam is likewise the first couplet:

Ay lami u lami gian, sar vashan gian lami

Sham khavankaran kavam, pirshan Benyami

O absolute light, the radiance of your being has brought rapture and filled the heart with ardour

Benyamin is the representative of the Lord, the King of the world.

According to Ali Akbar Moradi, this maqam used to be performed in praise of Soltan Sahak.