Arabic keyboard and music notation:

Dear Group,

Back ground
Historically Arabian music was based on 17 tones per octave. The 24
tone system was advanced by al-Farabi circa 940 CE. In "Measurement
of the Arabian Scale," Yusuf Shawqi concludes ( I'm told) far fewer
than 24 tones are found in practice. Adding to the confusion maqamat
(plural of maqam) and scales are different concepts. How does one
expect new master pieces when we can't agree on what has already been
accomplished?

Arabic music has a strong theoretical base that dates back to the
Greeks. We have yet to see the zenith that this 17 pitch system may
reach. Not notated much before the1800s it still relies on a mix of
notation and memory, so an oral history still prevails. With other
music available memories can fade. One Arabic orchestra has already
started using a piano instead of a qanun.
What's the big deal? see:

"http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/700/780/fairuz/legend/instruments.ht
ml" \l "qanun"

Questions:
An Arabic keyboard is a dream of mine. Carl Lumma already introduced
me to the 31 pitch per octave generalized keyboard. Being a purest I
don't want to just up the number of key to avoid missing one.
The
1/4 tone is a misnomer by the way. Arabic music has 1/2 steps, 3/4
steps, whole steps and at times 1&1/4 steps, but no 1/4 steps. see:

"http://WWW.maqamworld.com"

What literature is available? Has anyone seen Yusuf Shawqi's book?
Has it been translated to English? What music program has expertise
in this area?

Warm Wishes (WW),
Jim Nagy