''Layālī'' (ليالي) is a style of unmetered modal improvisation, based on a ''
maqam'', performed by a singing voice in
Arabic music. It is similar to the ''
taqsim
''Taqsim'' ( / ALA-LC: ''taqsīm'', , , ) is a melodic musical improvisation that usually precedes the performance of a traditional Arabic, Kurdish, Greek, Middle Eastern, Iranian, Azerbaijani or Turkish musical composition.
''Taqsim'' tradi ...
'', which is performed by a solo instrument.
The ''layali'' generally serves as an introduction to a ''
mawwāl''. In the ''layali'', the singer most often improvises using the common
Arabic
Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
phrase "''Yā ‘ayn yā layl''" (يا عين يا ليل), which means "O eye, O night."
The term ''layālī'' is the plural form of the word ''layl'' (ليل, meaning "night").
External links
Video
''Layālī'' video
Arabic music
Vocal music
Musical forms
{{Arabic-music-stub