Search - Constantinople, Kiya Tabassian, Francoise Atlan :: Terres Turquoises

Don't Miss Out -- This Is Genius

Tennessee Reader | 08/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'd like this review to be read, so I'll make it short. Kiya Tabassian is a genius and within a few more years -- by the time he's in his thirties, that is -- everyone will know it. He takes his ensemble, Constantinople, so far above the usual Mediterranean-meets-Central Asia mish-mash that almost every other group doing it sounds like a hootenanny in comparison. This and my other favorite Constantinople disc, "Carrefour de la Mediterranee," are astonishing, soul-stirring feats of artistry. The guest artists are some of the world's most distinguished vocalists and instrumentalists -- that they have all been brought together to make these two discs will simply take your breath away. These are discs that will change your listening life."

Wonderful Sound-- Pleasure to Hear

BfloBen | Buffalo, NY USA | 02/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I agree completely with reviewer Timmerman when he justly offers praise for the variety of traditions and instruments on this exceptional CD and the excellent vocal line.



I disagree with his minor quibble about the supposed monotony of the CD. Hey, if this gorgeous music is monotonous, please record a lot more of it. I am happily listening to this CD over and over without ever feeling deprived. Superb! And if you are familiar with middle eastern music, you'll appreciate the subtleties and delicate handling of the lyrical sound. And if you have a connection with the Sephardim, you'll truly love these songs and dances that revive ancient traditions. Bravo Constantinople!!

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Exotic and pleasant background music

J. TIMMERMAN | Lawson, NSW Australia | 06/03/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is ancient vocal and instrumental music from the "Turquoise Lands", a region stretching from the Western Mediterranean to Central Asia and India. Various traditions are encompassed, such as Judeo-Spanish Sephardic romances, music from the Ottoman Empire of the 16th century, classical Persian music, and music from Salonika, Smyrna, Izmir and Alexandria. The quality of the music is serene and exotic, played on early European instruments like the lute, harp, viola da gamba, fiddle, recorder, cornetto and shawm, as well as Middle Eastern instruments like setar, tombak, daf, dayareh and oud.Francoise Atlan's voice is pure and expressive. Her Judeo-Berber ancestry means she is right at home with the repertoire. The Constantinople musicians, five in all, are first-rate.The music ambles along at a leisurely steady pace, and is treated with fairly understated expression. This means that one piece tends to sound pretty similar to the next, making one wish for greater dynamics and variety to liven up proceedings. The recording's ambience too, while being good, might have had a little more sparkle to brighten this very mellow atmosphere.Still, these are arguably subjective and fairly minor quibbles. If not overly exciting, it is an interesting look at a particular place and era, and the group obviously goes to great pains to be authentic. Good for chilling out to after a long hard day, or suitable background music when reading "The Arabian Nights"."