An old independent composite maqam with a distinct lower Nikriz color, especially through the presence of F-sharp inside the first jins.

Nikriz is a composite maqam with Rast (C) as its finalis. In practical Arabic presentation it consists of Jins Nikriz on Rast (C), followed by Jins Rast on Nawa (G), while some explanations allow the upper segment to be understood as Busalik on Nawa.

Nikriz is an old composite maqam in the Ottoman-Turkish tradition, and some references even treat it as one of the oldest Turkish maqamat. Older sources are said to preserve related names such as Nairizi and Niriz. It is a maqam whose karar is Rast (C), and its sayr is described as ascending or ascending-descending in practical teaching. It belongs to the group of composite maqamat that resolve on Rast, rather than to the plain Rast family or to the Kurd or Hijaz families. In practical Arabic explanation it is presented as Jins Nikriz on Rast (C), followed by Jins Rast on Nawa (G), with the upper segment sometimes explained instead as Busalik on Nawa.

• Rast (C): the final tonic of the maqam
• Nawa (G): the ghammaz/qawi where the upper jins becomes clear
• Jaharkah raised (F-sharp): one of the most decisive auditory markers of the maqam within the lower jins

• Nikriz is described as ascending or ascending-descending, but its personality is established only when Jins Nikriz is clearly stated first, then expanded upward toward Nawa before returning to Rast
• Its character is not captured by scale alone, but by first establishing Nikriz at the tonic, then expanding upward, then cadencing back on Rast
• A common mistake is to perform it as if it were merely colored Rast or Nahawand with a raised fourth, without a true establishment of the first jins
• Proper performance needs a clear tonic on Rast, a clear Nikriz lower tetrachord/pentachord, a well-defined upper jins on Nawa, and a return that preserves the basic Nikriz color

• Establish Jins Nikriz on Rast (C)
• Bring out F-sharp as the defining raised fourth of the lower jins
• Ascend to Nawa (G), where the upper Rast or Busalik region becomes audible
• Return to the tonic on Rast (C) with a clear closing cadence

• Nikriz and Rast both settle on Rast (C), but Nikriz differs immediately through the raised fourth (F-sharp) inside the first jins, while Rast keeps its natural fourth
• Nawa Athar also uses Nikriz below, but adds Hijaz on Nawa (G) as its upper jins; this makes the relation between the two maqamat very close, though Nawa Athar is more composite than basic Nikriz
• Some practical explanations summarize it as Nikriz on Rast plus Rast on Nawa, while other references note that the upper segment can also be interpreted as Busalik on Nawa in certain teaching traditions
• Some references emphasize the historical and structural depth of Nikriz as an old composite maqam rather than only presenting it as a scalar formula