Mugham is one of the main genres of classical folk music in Eastern countries. Unlike other musical genres in the world, mugham has played a crucial role in shaping the national and cultural heritage of many nations and in its preservation to the present day.
The word mugham originates from the term "maqam", which is used in Persian, Arabic, and Turkish languages. The word "maqam" refers to the frets or tonal positions on string instruments. Until approximately the 14th century, it represented a unified musical genre among the peoples of the Middle East.
However, due to subsequent socio-political changes, this unified genre gradually diversified according to national characteristics. In Azerbaijan, mugham is the general name for the largest genre of traditional music and encompasses all forms of mugham, although each has its own distinct name.
Classical Eastern mugham traditionally consisted of 12 main mughams and 6 avazats (melodic modes). The main mughams were: Ushshaq, Nava, Busalik, Rast, Iraq, Isfahan, Zirefkand, Buzurk, Zangule, Rahavi, Husseini, and Hijaz. The avazats included: Shahnaz, Maya, Salmak, Nowruz, Kardanaya, and Guvasht.
In Azerbaijan, there are seven main and three auxiliary mughams. The main mughams are: Rast, Shur, Segah, Chahargah, Bayati-Shiraz, Shushtar, and Humayun. The auxiliary mughams include: Shahnaz, Sarenc, and Chahargah (2nd type).
The formation of mugham as a distinct genre dates back to the 12th–13th centuries, a period known as the “Islamic Renaissance.” During this time, the rise of classical poetry—represented by poets such as Nizami, Khagani, Nasimi, and Fuzuli—significantly contributed to the development of mugham. Mugham is a core genre of the classical folk music tradition in Eastern cultures.
Some historians trace the roots of mugham back to Zoroastrian traditions. In Azerbaijan, mugham is typically performed by a khananda (vocalist), accompanied by a traditional mugham trio. The vocal-instrumental performance delivered by such an ensemble is referred to as a complete mugham dastgah.
In the 1970s, UNESCO was actively involved in the popularization of Mugham. On November 7, 2003, Azerbaijani Mugham was proclaimed a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. In 2008, Azerbaijani mughams were also included in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.