A Comparative Structural Analysis of “Segāh” Dastgāh/Mughām in the Classical Music of Iran and Azerbaijan

Iran and Azerbaijan’s musical traditions benefit from improvisation and the composition of rich melodies, as well as pieces based on the Dastgāhi system in Iran and the Dastgāh/ Mughām in Azerbaijan. "Segāh" as one of the fundamental Modes in Iranian and Azerbaijani Dastgāh/ Mughām music has been explored and compared analytically. In this research, the Gushehs / Shobehs of the Segāh in terms of structural intervals, Tonic(Shāhed),Stop(Ist), altered notes, melodic range, melodic motion, and Modality have been investigated, and also a comparison of subscriptions and differences in their concepts and components have been studied. The results indicate that "Segāh" from the combination of the two words "Se" in the numerical meaning (three) and "Gāh" in the meaning of position is the same in both countries. The melodic range of “Darāmad” in the Iranian Segāh is limited to the modality of Darāmad and the Dastgāh is in an ascending motion. In the three variants of Azerbaijani Segāh, the “Bardāsht” starts from the highest range of each Dastgāh and reaches the main modality with a descending motion. Consequently, the melodic range of the Bardāshts is wider than the Darāmad of the Iranian Segāh. The tonic note or Shāhed in the variants of the Azerbaijani Segāh has been tempered compared to the Iranian Segāh so that the Iranian Segāh emphasizes the neutral third interval (quarter-tone), while in the Segāh of Azerbaijan this interval is the Major third commensurate with the fretting of Azerbaijani music. “Zābol” Gusheh/ Shobeh is a common mode between the two countries with the same melodic pivot and Shāhed, which means the third interval from the shāhed of the Segāh. "Muyeh" as an independent mode is performed in Iranian music with a trichord structure with the melodic pivot concentrating on the notes "C", "D" quarter-tone, and "E" flat, and in Azerbaijan music, as a Gusheh of the "Mayeh-ye- Zābol" Shobeh with the melodic pivot concentrating on the notes "G" flat, "A" flat and "B" Double flat. Also, the "Mokhālef" Gusheh/ Shobeh is prevalent in both musical cultures, with the Shāhed note and the pivot of the sixth interval from the Shāhed of the Segāh. But in Iran and Azerbaijan, it has differences in structure.