The Maqam Book - A Doorway to Arab Scales and Modes
David Muallem was born in Baghdad in 1931. He grew up in a musical family that was close to circles of composers and poets from whom he absorbed the richness of the Iraqi and pan-Arab music. As a child, he learned European music playing the violin and eventually participated in the founding of the first Baghdad Philharmonic Orchestra, which is still active to this day. Muallem is still in contact with members of the orchestra in Iraq.In 1950, David Muallem immigrated to Israel where he studied and researched Arab and Turkish music, alongside a career as an advocate and judge in the Israeli legal system.Close to his retirement as a judge, Muallem joined the School of Eastern Music at Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, where he taught and researched Arab music for many years, performing Arab music on the violin. A result of his work at Bar Ilan University and his interaction with faculty and students was the recognition of the great need for a textbook in Hebrew on Arab scales and maq m t. His love of music in general and of Arab music in particular motivated him to dedicate more than eight years to writing such a book that would serve teachers and students alike in the field of Arab music.David Muallem currently lectures on Arab music at various institutions, writes articles, and gives educational presentations accompanied by live musical demonstrations.