Above the Palm Trees

One of the most well-known love songs of the Middle East is an Iraqi love song called Fog el Nakhl, which translates in English to “Above the Palm Trees.” The iconic melody, which begins at measure 32, is couched within an original melody that serves as an introduction and then reappears at the end to gently bring the song to a close. The entire piece is in a mode called Maqam Hijaz, which is built on the notes D, Eb, F#, G, A, Bb, C, and D.