Yes it is, though has been also known in old Persia, Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Egypt and South Africa.
The name Hijaz is the name of a note (Gb, F#) the name of a tetrachord and the name of the maqam itself. It also constitutes other Maqams' name, like
Hijaz Kar, Hijaz KarKurd, Hijaz Bussalik, Hijaz Turki, Hijaz Diwan, Hijaz Shaytani, Hijaz Ushairan, Hijaz Ockbury, Hijaz Ghareeb, Hijaz Mathnawy,
Hijaz Mokhalif, Hijaz Madmy, Hijaz Hamyoun, Hijaz Ateeq, Hijazain and maybe more, which are not all Hijaz based scales.
Hijaz is one of the most famous modes in the Oriental music, if not the most wide spread maqam, basically because it's the Azan's most used maqam,
repeated five times a day in every single spot in the Islamic World, and recently even in some regions outside Islam-land.
Hijaz is also the maqam of many well known and wide spread folklore songs in Greater Syria, Iraq & Egypt, sung in every occasion. It's frequently
used in reciting Qura'an as well, so all people of all ages hear Hijaz, in one way or another, during the day and part of the night.
Yours indeed
Alfaraby
alfarabymusic@gmail.com
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