Turkey Archive

“Hawniyaz” – Kayhan Kalhour, kamancheh/Aynur, chant/Cemil Qoçgirî, tenbûr/Salman Gambarov, p. – HM

by Audiophile Audition | Dec 29, 2016 | Classical CD Reviews

Just sit back and enjoy this wonderful ensemble and learn something. “Hawniyaz” – Kayhan Kalhour, kamancheh/Aynur, chant/Cemil Qoçgirî, tenbûr/Salman Gambarov, p. – Harmonia mundi, 57:31 [Distr. by PIAS] (8/12/16), ***1/2: Upon first seeing this album I honestly had no idea what I was in for. I have heard very little of contemporary classical music come out of the Middle East (an example of which this is not) and I have a rather limited appreciation for traditional ethnic music from any culture (an example of which this is not.) So the great surprise here is that this album is almost indescribable and quite good. It is sort of an ‘easy listening/world music/ethnic jazz’ experience and makes for very interesting and relaxing listening. The first thing I had to learn was what these instruments are that this amazing ensemble uses. Thanks to very good booklet notes, I learned that a kamancheh is a “spike fiddle” played with a bow and/or plucking and strumming and is indigenous to fifteenth century Iran and is played to this day throughout Armenia, Azerbaijan and the larger region. A tenbûr is a kind of long-necked lute also originally from the Kurdish territories and still played much of […]