Mugham

Mugham (Azerbaijani: Muğam) or Mughamat (Azerbaijani: Muğamat) is one of the many classical compositions from Azerbaijan, contrasting with tasnif and ashik. It is an art form that weds classical poetry and musical improvisation in specific local modes. Mugham is a modal system. Unlike Western modes, "mugham" modes are associated not only with scales but also with an orally transmitted collection of melodies and melodic fragments that performers use in the course of improvisation.