Maqam Mansuri - Yusuf Omar يوسف عمر - مقام منصوري

Maqam Mansuri and Peste مقام منصوري
Yusuf Omar and al-Chalghi al-Baghdadi
1972, Baghdad, Iraq.

مقام المنصوري من اداء يوسف عمر و فرقه الجالغي البغدادي من تسجيل إذاعة بغداد عام ١٩٧٢

This maqam derives from the maqam Saba, but exceeds it by far in importance. The Mansuri is a typically Baghdadi maqam, renowned for its complexity and difficulty. Sung to a qasida, it is accompanied alternately by two rhythmic formulae, the 36/4 samah and the 12/4 yugrug. *


First part:
- Instrumental introduction.
- Tahrir in mansuri mode (saba on G) to the sound "Ay". (0:58)
- Several verses in succession alternating mansuri and bayat modes. (2:12)
- Jalsa, the cadenza which ends the first part in saba mode, is sung to the words "aman bidadem". (9:47)

Second part:
-First meyana in bayat mode sung to the words "ya dust way way". (0:12)
- A passage of "Mathnawi" (hijaz) composed of an instrumental interlude. (1:30)
- Sung passage in mathnawi to the words "aziz aziz men". (3:09)
- Return to the mansuri on the words "aman aman bidadem". (3:15)
- Second meyana on the words "ya dust way way". (3:30)
- A melodic piece taking up again the melody of the second meyana. (3:55)
- "Mthaltha", a measured piece in bayat mode in three parts separated by instrumental interludes, to the words "aman aman leili baba, bordem jur, agham jur, bashem jur". (4:34)
- Final teslim descending one octave from upper G to lower G on the words "mawlaja man". (5:21)
- Peste, "Win ya galub"

The sung poem is a takhmis (4) by an unknown author derived from a qasida attributed to Ibn Nubata al-Sa'di (938-1115):

الشعر المغنى تخميس من قصيدة منسوبه لابن نباتة السعدي

و مورد الخدين لف ببرده * غصنا وزر عليه طره بنده

ناديته لما استبد بعهده * يا من حكى ورد الشقيق بخده

و حكى قضيب الخيزران بقده

لك يا امير الحسن امر مبرم * تنهى بأرباب الغرام و تحكم

انا لامرك طاِئع و مسلم * ان شئت تعذيبي فأنت محكم

من ذا يعارض سيد في عبده

لك بيض اجفان و إن قد اغمدت * لكن على قتل النفوس تعودت

قتلت و من اجفانها ما ان بدت * كل السيوف قواطع ان جردت

و حسام لحظك قاطع في غمده

قلبي بحبك لا يزال متيما * دنفا على كيد الوشاه تعلما

رحماك يا حلو الشمائل و اللمى * لا تستمع قول الوشاه فربما

نقلوا الحديث الى الحبيب بضده

The rose complexionated beauty's head-ornament hides a branch,

Which she has covered with dew and which shines like silver,

I questioned her before she could abuse her power.

And you, whose cheeks are like the poppy and the waist like the reed,

O you, princess of beauty who gives firm commands,

You dictate you law to the gods of love and rule over them.

I submit myself to you and yield to your commands.

If you wish to torture me, you alone are judge.

Who can stand against a master who commands his slave?

Your lashes are swords that shine, even in the scabbard,

And which are accustomed to beheading souls.

Lashes that kill as soon as they are revealed.

All swords cut once they are unsheathed,

But your lashes wound, even in the sheath.

My heart, always, is eager for your love,

And remains insensitive to blows by informers.

For pity's sake, O you, whose lips are so beautiful,

Listen no more to lying spies,

They may tell the beloved the opposite of what has been said.

Peste, "Winn Ya Galub":

This tradtional Baghdadi peste is based on the hijaz in place of the mansuri mode (derived from the Mathnawi piece of this maqam) and played to the 6/4 sengin sama'i rhythm.

بسته بغداديه على نغم الحجاز و ايقاع سنكَين سماعي ٤/٦

ون يا كَلب ون ون لا تتبع العافوك و تظل شماته

و راح ولفي د ون يا كَلبي

مثل ام ولد غركَان و ابره الشرايع

راح ولفي د ون يا كَلبي

كلمن حبيبه وياه بس ولفي ضايع

راح ولفي د ون يا كَلبي

روح يا طبيب الجاي لا تجس نبضي

راح ولفي د ون يا كَلبي

صدق بعد مشوار و العمر يكَضي

راح ولفي د ون يا كَلبي

ارد انتحر و ابليه كل جاره مالي

راح ولفي د ون يا كَلبي

لو عندي ليل نهار لو تفك عهدي

راح ولفي د ون يا كًلبي

Refrain: O weep my heart, weep, weep, weep.

Do not follow those who have left you

My love has left, O weep, my heart.

Like the mother of a drowned child

Who fixes her eyes on the banks of the river.

(Refrain)

Each one is with his beloved,

Only mine is lost.

(Refrain)

To the doctor who comes, I yell: "Go away!

Don't take my pulse!"

My love has gone, O weep my heart!

(Refrain)

Is it true that life will be over in so short a time?

My love has left, O weep my heart!

(Refrain)

I want to kill myself and make you the guilty one, I have

no other choice.

Stay with me day and night or let us part!

(Refrain)

Vocals: Yusuf Omar (d. 1987)
Santur: Abdallah Ali
Djoze: Shaoubi Ibrahim al-A'dhami (d. 1991)
Djoze: Hassan Ali al-Naqib (d. 1986)
Tabla: Abdul Razzaq Majid
Raqq: Kan'an Mohammed Salih
Daff zinjari: Dhia' Mahmoud Ahmed
Choir: Ali al-Dabbou, Abdul Wahid Zaidan, Falih Jawhar, Abdul Qadir