Digital Arabic Maqām Archive and open-source MIDI plug-in now available

Khyam Allami presented his long-term research project in Beirut yesterday, and it’s an exciting one. Hundreds of tuning systems, ajnās, and maqāmāt are now in a free, open archive, and there’s a free MIDI plug-in that lets you apply tunings (and tweak them by ear) across all major software tuning formats.

No one shreds on keys like Mauritania’s Ahmedou Ahmed Lowla

Ahemdou Ahmed Lowla is on the move. Breaking out across Europe for the first time in 2019, I caught up with the Mauritanian WZN superstar last month. Hearing his music will change how you think about keyboards — and new stuff is on the way.

Peter Kirn - September 5, 2025

Start your Black History Month in music by traveling back to the 6th century

Black History Month may be a creation of the USA, but why not go further out and further back – much further back? Jon Silpayamanant takes us back to Saint Yared in Ethiopia in the 6th century for a ride through the centuries that could transform some of your ideas about music history and provide some alternative starting points.

Peter Kirn - February 4, 2025