Edward Powell - 2-17-2009 at 12:10 PM
Listening to specifically these FORMS of Arabic music - it has prompted me to think more inquisitively about the FORMS of Turkish music (a music I am
more familiar with than Arabic).
Of course there are the general catagories of Rural and Urban musics ('folkloric' and 'classical')
I have listened to TONS of Turkish folk music but really know nothing about the FORMS. I know there is the concept of the ASHIK. . . the wondering
saz playing singer who sings political and social commentaries. ...and there is the BOZLAK which is like a folk taksim. ...also, the folk
music has it's own makam system. . . . etc etc etc
Then, on to Urban music, you have the - what I call the "restaurant fasil" where the violin, oud, kanun, darbuka and maybe clarinet play longas and
light pieces all night in nihavent and hicaz, and maybe a rast if you are lucky.
Then there is the - what I call the "classical fasil". . . . which now starts very much to resemble some of these ARABIC FORMS like DAWR and
MUASHAHAT... it seems to me. From my understanding of these grand CLASSICAL FASILS they play some instrumental pieces (semai and peshrev) and vocal
pieces (sharki) - - - IS THIS ALL THERE IS TO IT? CAN ANYONE HELP ME HERE?
Then there is the SEMA AYIN.... this seems to be a highly structured mega suite dedicated to one makam (but having also many pieces if nearby
makams). There are introductory pieces, and then 4 salems - and connective taksims. . . I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS STRUCTURE AND
HOW IT EVOLVED.