taksimi
Taksim, and its performance form taksimi, is the instrumental improvisation in Turkish classical music. The term traces to the Turkish word taqsīm, itself derived from Arabic, and it denotes free-form exploration within a makam, the modal framework of Turkish music. A taksim is not a fixed composition; it is an improvised stretch that reveals the musician’s command of scale, ornament, and mood.
In practice, taksim is usually performed as a solo piece, though it can occur within an ensemble.
A typical taksim begins in a slow, expansive manner, with unmetered phrases that establish the makam and
Culturally, taksim is a central feature of Ottoman-era and Turkish classical performance, valued for showcasing technical