Rhythm · 9/8
Aqsaq
Also known as: Aksak
dum tak rest
Time signature: commonly 9/8; the broader concept includes several odd meters.
Origin
Ottoman/Turkish and Balkan musical traditions
Where you hear it
“Aksak” means an uneven or “limping” rhythmic structure and describes additive meters built from unequal groups such as 2+2+2+3. It is more a rhythmic family/concept than one single belly-dance beat.
Dance
Styles danced to it
Also used in
- Balkan fusion
- Classical Ottoman-inspired dance