Safî al-Dîn al-Urmaî and The Theory of Music: Al-RISĀLA AL-SHARAFIYYA FĪ AL-NISAB AL-TA’LĪFIYYA Content, Aanalysis, and Influences

One of the most important figures of the history of Middle Eastern music is Safī al-Dīn 'Abd al-Mumin al- Urmawī (d. 1294). One meets his name in the introductions to most of the books written in the field of the theory of Eastern music. Al-Urmawī analyzed thoroughly the Greek sources and the works of Muslim scholars such as al-Kindī, al-Fārābī and Ibn Sīnā. He studied the practical music of his time scientifically and systematized it. The theory and practice of this systematization can be found in his main treatise al-Risāla al-sharafiyya fī al-nisab al-ta’līfiyya (The Sharafian Treatise on Musical Proportions).
It is acknowledged that the contribution of Safī al-Dīn al-Urmawī is of tremendous importance in the chain of theoretical works in the history of Arabic music starting with al-Kindī. He studied the sciences in al-Mustansiriyya school in Baghdad and was well known as a celebrated calligrapher and writer of literature.
Safī al-Din was also a good physicist and a performer of the ' ūd (oriental lute). Being famous with his
compositions abroad, Safī al-Dīn invented two musical instruments and trained students in the fields of calligraphy and music. "Old Orient Sound System with 17 Notes" which was systematized by Safī al-Dīn was considered as one of the best sound systems by some writers. It is thanks to this system and other achievements that he was claimed as Zarlino of the Orient.