Iraqi Maqam in the Abbasid Palace

An evening of Iraqi maqam performed in the courtyard of the Abbasid Palace, under the brick muqarnas. Three singers work through the classical maqamat with a small chalghi ensemble — santur, joza, and percussion — with short spoken introductions explaining what each maqam is and where it sits in the tradition. Seating is on cushions in the courtyard and there is no amplification to speak of, which is the whole point: the vaulting does the work. Doors at seven thirty, performance starts at eight sharp.