Violin of the Yayla

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The yayla are summer grazing grounds in the valleys of the Taurus Mountains in southern Turkey. It is here that Mehmet Sakir and Hayri Dev learned their music, Sakir the fiddle, Dev the uçtelli, or lute. Sakir is an amateur in that he only plays on request for social events like weddings. Dev is a professional whose whole life is focused on his music, even as he works another job. The four pieces here were performed in impromptu fashion (Sakir and Dev do not normally play together but happened to be around when the recordist was looking for music). The first is a "long melody," a sad solo song for violin and voice, followed by a few brief, uptempo dance tunes accompanied by lute. The second is also a dance tune, preceded by an odd, nine-beat introduction. The third set is a wonderful group of fast dances on which Sakir and Dev both really show their energy and skill on the instruments. Last is a powerful lament about a young woman who drowns on her wedding day, and the expressiveness of Sakir's voice and its mimicked violin part are close to heart-rending. This is the real thing, folk music as a living part of the community it comes from. --Louis Gibson

Violin of the Yayla,Mehmet Sakir & Hayri Dev,Ocora,Int'l & World Music,Middle East / Asia Minor,Pop
Violin of the Yayla
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Violin of the Yayla
    Mehmet Sakir & Hayri Dev
    Manufacturer: Ocora
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Middle East | International | Styles | Music
    TurkeyTurkey | Middle East | International | Styles | Music
    ASIN: B00000G40Y
    Release Date: 1998-11-24

    Tracks:

    1. Uzun hava (air long), suivi D'airs de danses
    2. Suites de danses: zeybek et airs kirik
    3. Airs de danse rapides
    4. Ummu kiz turkusu (Chanson d'Ummu la vierge)

    Amazon.com

    The yayla are summer grazing grounds in the valleys of the Taurus Mountains in southern Turkey. It is here that Mehmet Sakir and Hayri Dev learned their music, Sakir the fiddle, Dev the uçtelli, or lute. Sakir is an amateur in that he only plays on request for social events like weddings. Dev is a professional whose whole life is focused on his music, even as he works another job. The four pieces here were performed in impromptu fashion (Sakir and Dev do not normally play together but happened to be around when the recordist was looking for music). The first is a "long melody," a sad solo song for violin and voice, followed by a few brief, uptempo dance tunes accompanied by lute. The second is also a dance tune, preceded by an odd, nine-beat introduction. The third set is a wonderful group of fast dances on which Sakir and Dev both really show their energy and skill on the instruments. Last is a powerful lament about a young woman who drowns on her wedding day, and the expressiveness of Sakir's voice and its mimicked violin part are close to heart-rending. This is the real thing, folk music as a living part of the community it comes from. --Louis Gibson

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