Turkey, part 2. Classical Ottoman music. In the first part, performed by the Lalezar Ensemble and in the second part by the Kudsi Erguner Ensemble.
After having done research after historical recordings and writings, the Lalezar Ensemble gave its own interpretation of classical Ottoman court music.
The members of the ensemble are Reha Sagbas (qanun), Hasan Esen (kamanche), Murat Salim Tokaç (ney & tanbur), Fahreddin Yarkin (daire & kudun), Selma Sagbas (vocals) , Mustafa Dogan Dikmen (vocals) and Ahmet Erdogdular (vocals).
The first of four albums contains works that were first recorded by sultans themselves. These are the sultans/composers who have ruled for five centuries such as Murad IV (1623-40), Selim III (1789-1808) and Mehmed VI (1918-1922).
00:00 Lalezar-Music of the Sultans, Sufis, and Seraglio Vol. I Sultan. Traditional Crossroads CD 80702-4301-2
The second album contains the repertoire of the köçek. Köçek are dancers who, cross-dressed in women’s attire, danced for the sultans in court. In the 19th century, these dancers were taunted because of their ambiguous sexuality and prostitution. Most of them emigrated to Egypt. The music that accompanie the dancers is an intoxicating mix of elements from the classicial, sufi, Anatolian and Balkan music.
00:54 Lalezar-Music of the Sultans, Sufis, and Seraglio Vol. II Music of the Dancing Boys. Traditional Crossroads CD 4302
On the third album by the Lalezar Ensemble are works by Armenian, Greek and Jewish composers, who contributed to the forming and distributing of Ottoman classical music. Without giving up their own identity, they were a part of Ottoman classical culture without restraint. You will hear music by Angelos, Hamparsum and Isak, among others, but also works by Armenian and Greek nightclub musicians from the 20th century.
01:47 Lalezar-Music of the Sultans, Sufis, and Seraglio Vol. III Minority. Traditional Crossroads CD 80702-4303-2
The final part from the series of albums by the Lalezar Ensemble contains a suite such as was heard at the court of the Ottoman Empire. This suite exists of improvisations and pieces by various composers held together by one maqam (mode), namely segâh. The suite contains compositions from the Ottoman classical Kâr-i sesavaz, which originates from the Persian Khorasan to Sufi-inspired vocal pieces. sarki, light classical pieces, are also a part of it.
02:40 Lalezar-Music of the Sultans, Sufis, and Seraglio Vol. IV Ottoman Suite
traditioneel. Traditional Crossroads CD 4304
Kudsi Erguner is known as one of the modern masters of Ottoman art music. Born in Istanbul, he learned sufi and classical Turkish music from his father Ulvi Erguner. Kudsi Erguner’s ensemble plays pieces by Kemani Tatyos Efendi, one of the greatest composers from the time of the Ottoman Empire. The first part of the two-part series contains instrumental pieces.
03:34 Tatyos Efendi – performed by The Kudsi Erguner Ensemble – Vol. I, Instrumental Works. Traditional Crossroads CD 4277
The members of the Kudsi Ergurner Ensemble are Kudsi Erguner (ney), Süleyman Erguner (ney), Baki Kemanci (keman), Mehmet Emin Bitmez (oud), Necip Gülses (tanbur), Sükrü Kabaci (clarinet), Hüsnü Anil (qanun) en Dogan Hosses (daf). In the second and final part you will hear a selection of sarki, light classical songs.
04:44 Tatyos Efendi – performed by The Kudsi Erguner Ensemble – Vol. II, Vocal Masterpieces. Kemani Tatyos Efendi. Traditional Crossroads CD 4278