* Great Voices Of Constantinople (1927-1933)

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Κατ' αρχή να ευχαριστήσω τον φίλο του blog S.D.

Πρώτον για το θαυμάσιο CD που μου έστειλε (δημοσιεύετε σήμερα) και δεύτερον για τα αναλυτικά σχόλια και κρητική που έγραψε (επίσης δημοσιεύετε σήμερα).

Πολλοί φίλοι του blog (Έλληνες Της Διασποράς) μου ζήτησαν που και που να γράφουμε κάτι και στα Αγγλικά ή τουλάχιστον να μεταφράζουμε κάποια πράγματα. Προσπαθώντας να τους ευχαριστήσω παραθέτω αυτούσια την κρητική του S.D:

"Dervisáki if you keep playing / At the cards and at the dice / And keep smoking black hashish / Then your fate will never be good." --Andónios Dalgás "You have your beauty, I have my love / Yours the tyranny, mine the patience / Every moment they increase, they don't grow less / Unending, limitless." --Hafiz Burhan

Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul, by whatever name it has been known, this great city bestriding the Bosphorus where Europe meets Asia was, until the rise of Kemalism and modern Turkey in the 1920's, a truly cosmopolitan, polyglot melting pot of many races and cultures. During the later years of the Ottoman Empire there were born in this city two of the twentieth century's outstanding singers of vernacular music. One Greek, the other Turkish, both the inheritors of rich and ancient tradition.

Historically, Istanbul has always been a land where cultures met (and clashed). Great Voices of Constantinople takes a point/counterpoint angle in its showcase of two vernacular music greats, Andonis Diamandidis, or Dalgas, and Hafiz Burhan Sesyilmaz. Dalgas, a Greek, specialized in the "amane," an unmetered song consisting of single couplets, while the Turkish Burhan was more a cantor, but also tackled the amane. Dalgas alone cut over 400 sides for the Greek HMV catalog between 1926 and 1933, and Burhan's numerous Columbia 78's are a testimony to his fame at the time. On this CD, both performers shine, with Dalgas providing some truly interesting lyrics--the translation to "Mia Smyrnia Stin Kokkinia" reads like the vocals of a ragtime number--and Burhan showcasing some truly inspiring backing instrumentation. As a bonus of sorts, one of the best cuts is a total wildcard: a frenetic 1930 "Kemani Cevdet Bey" instrumental track, thrown in for good measure.

Since I'm partially Greek and have been interested in music from this part of the world for quite a long time, I was thrilled to find this CD in a specialized store in Amsterdam. Andonis Dalgas and Hafiz Burhan - A Greek and a Turk, both famous singers from Constantinople during the twenties and thirties - alternate in singing heart-felt songs in traditional style, with a wide variety of rythms and melodic modes. It is interesting to hear that their music has a lot in common and has clear differences at the same time. Somehow the Greek ''Manes'' (a long, drawn-out love song, derived from Arabic and Persian music) seem to be more based on functional harmony, and sometimes sound more ''Western'' in this aspect. At the same time the modality and the rich ornamentation remind you of the fact that the Greeks seem to be musical transition figures, somehow caught between East and West, which I find fascinating. The Turkish music seems to be less occupied with harmony, and is thrilling melodicaly and rythmically. Hafiz Burhan makes a thrilling adventure out of every song, fast or slow. Both he and Andonis Dalgas were astounding vocal artists, virtuosic and highly expressive at the same time. It is also interesting to compare the subject matters (the booklit provides the songtexts in the original language and English): whereas Dalgas sings of dying consumptives, murder and drugs, Burhan seems mainly occupied with his seductive, irresistible objects of passion, and his songs are generally more positive. I would advice anyone who is historically interested in Greek and Turkish music to buy this CD - it is a wonderfull document that grows on you more everytime you listen to it.

Από το CD "Great Voices Of Constantinople (1927-1933)" στα 320.0 kb/sec:


ΛΙΣΤΑ ΚΟΜΜΑΤΙΩΝ:

01. Μανές Της Αυγής (Manes Tis Avyis) - Αντώνης Διαμαντίδης ή Νταλγκάς (Andonis Dalgas)

02. Νίτσουμ Γκερντούμ (Nitshcun Guerdum) - Χαφίζ Μπουρχάν (Hafiz Burhan)

03. Χασαπάκι (Hasapaki) - Αντώνης Διαμαντίδης ή Νταλγκάς (Andonis Dalgas)

04. Κουτς Σεσλέρι (Kouch Sesleri) - Χαφίζ Μπουρχάν (Hafiz Burhan)

05. Τα Μπαγλαμαδάκια (Ta Baglamadhakia) - Αντώνης Διαμαντίδης ή Νταλγκάς (Andonis Dalgas)

06. Κιλμπουρνού Τσιφτετέλι (Kilbournou Cifte Tellisi) - Κεμάνι Σεβντέτ Μπέη (Kemani Cevdet Bey)

07. Μανές Κιουρντιλί (Manes Kiourdili) - Αντώνης Διαμαντίδης ή Νταλγκάς (Andonis Dalgas)

08. Χικάζ Γκαζέλ (Hicaz Gazel) - Χαφίζ Μπουρχάν (Hafiz Burhan)

09. Μια Σμυρνιά Στην Κοκκινιά (Mia Smyrnia Stin Kokkinia) - Αντώνης Διαμαντίδης ή Νταλγκάς (Andonis Dalgas)

10. Σεβντίμ Βαλλάχ Σεβντίμ Μπιλλάχ (Sevdim Vallah Sevdim Billah) - Χαφίζ Μπουρχάν (Hafiz Burhan)

11. Ο Καημός Του Φθυσικού (O Kaimos Tou Fthisikou) - Αντώνης Διαμαντίδης ή Νταλγκάς (Andonis Dalgas)

12. Νέβα Γκαζέλ (Neva Gazel) - Χαφίζ Μπουρχάν (Hafiz Burhan)

13. Μανές Σι Μπεμόλ Σμυρναίϊκος (Manes Si Be Mol Smyrneikos) - Αντώνης Διαμαντίδης ή Νταλγκάς (Andonis Dalgas)

14. Κόνιαλι (Konyali) - Χαφίζ Μπουρχάν (Hafiz Burhan)

15. Δερβισάκι (Dhervisaki) - Αντώνης Διαμαντίδης ή Νταλγκάς (Andonis Dalgas)

16. Ραστ Τέμπολου Γκαζέλ (Ras Tempolu Gazel) - Χαφίζ Μπουρχάν (Hafiz Burhan)

17. Μεσ' Του Συγγρού Τη Φυλακή (Mes 'Tou Singrou Ti Fillaki) - Αντώνης Διαμαντίδης ή Νταλγκάς (Andonis Dalgas)

18. Νεβά Ουσάκ Γκαζέλ (Neva Usak Gazel) - Χαφίζ Μπουρχάν (Hafiz Burhan)

19. Το Μπαγλαμαδάκι Σπάσε (To Baglamadhaki Spase) - Αντώνης Διαμαντίδης ή Νταλγκάς (Andonis Dalgas)

20. Τσάργκα Γκαζέλ Τεμπόλου (Cargah Gazel Tempolu) - Χαφίζ Μπουρχάν (Hafiz Burhan)

21. Ροζίκα (Rozika) - Αντώνης Διαμαντίδης ή Νταλγκάς (Andonis Dalgas)

22. Νέβα Χικάζ Γκαζέλ (Neva Hicaz Gazel) - Χαφίζ Μπουρχάν (Hafiz Burhan)

23. Κατινάκι Μου Για Σένα (Neva Hicaz Gazel) - Αντώνης Διαμαντίδης ή Νταλγκάς (Andonis Dalgas)

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