Kim is Facebook and on Youtube too!
(When googling ‘gaida’ in Turkish contexts, spell it ‘gayda’ – that’s the Turkish spelling. Sometimes in Macedonia it is spelled ‘gajda’)
Kim with Birol Topaloglu at the Gitar Cafe in Istanbul
Ney taksim in Saba makam. Kim Sanders and Friends at Chapel by the Sea May 08.
Resources
“I have a small number of neys, meys, kavals and one zurna for private sale. Contact me at kimzgaida@hotmail.com
Rifat Varol is an excellent “ney-opener” (ney-maker) in Sultanahmet, Istanbul . I have several of his neys. Rifat doesn’t speak English himself but does have a website (in English) which has some very good downloadable samples of ney taksims and useful links. Online ordering available. www.neyneva.com Email: neyneva@neyneva.com
Another excellent ney maker whose neys I have also used is Hanefi Kirgiz , also in Sultanahmet, Istanbul . He speaks a little English. His website is in Turkish only: www.hanefikirgiz.com Email: info@hanefikirgiz.com
Mehmet Yucel is also a reputable ney-opener, and has a very good ney site, including downloadable samples, charts (select “nota arsivi” from menu at top of homepage) and ney care hints. http://www.neyzen.com He is in the process of making an English-language version – some pages only at present.
My ney teacher Neyzen Ahmet Kaya has published a how-to-play-ney book Ney Metodu (in Turkish) (including DVD). Published by Caglar Musiki Yayinlari (website in Turkish only). Ahmet is working on an English version. Stay tuned for publication details.
The problem with books on Turkish Classical Music is that not only is the theory difficult, but the practice does not entirely correlate with the theory (which is one reason why you need a teacher). Also, there are not only a lot of specialised musical terms, but also a lot of old Persian, Arabic and other old Ottoman words, allegedly banished from “pure” Turkish by Ataturk after WW1. These words do not appear in Turkish dictionaries.
By far the best book (in Turkish) is Ismail Hakki Ozkan: Turk Muzikisi Nazariyati ve Usulleri(Istanbul Universitesi Devlet Konservatuari Turk Musikisi Bolumu Ogretim Grevlisi, 1998. ISBN 975-437-107-6) See www.otuken,com.tr A simpler book (also in Turkish) on Turkish Classical Music is Zeki Yilmaz: Turk Musikisi Dersleri (Caglar Yayinlari, Istanbul, 1994. ISBN 975-95729-1-5) This is readily available in music shops in Istanbul and other big cities in Turkey.
The only book on Turkish Classical Music as far I know in English is Karl L. Signel: Makam – Modal Practice in Turkish Art Music (Da Capo PressNew York, 1986 ISBN 0-306-76248-X). It’s a bit disorganized and layout messy, but pretty good for all that. If anyone knows any others, please let me know (see Comments below)
My kaval teacher Sinan Celik is the force behind Duygu Muzik, who put out some interesting CDs (not just kaval). They also sell good kavals made by Ali Acar. Sinan has also written a Kaval Metodu (how-to-play kaval) in Turkish. www.dilsizkaval.com has some instruction videos in Turkish. Email: info@dilsizkaval.com
Risto Todoroski (in Sydney) makes good Macedonian and Bulgarian gaidas, kavals and tapans. http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=310B59B0583F898A Email: sirulsko@gmail.com Tel: 02 9835 4732
Cory Dale of Brisbane also makes good gaidas, kavals and other goodies. I can recommend him, too.
Ian Mackenzie (of Blackheath, NSW) makes Uillean, Spanish, Highland and Lowland pipes, kavals and other things. He made the chanter for the aardvark. simack_2000@yahoo.com
Linsey Pollak makes very good gaidas, zurnas etc – but there’s a bit of a waiting-list. He has also published an excellent book of Macedonian tunes he has collected during his travels. It goes from simple tunes in 2/4 right up to 25/8, and isn’t full of mistakes like some “folkloric” publications! He also has a CD Kniga Tservena containing (some of) the tunes in the book. linsey@spiderweb.com.au
Sabahattin Akdagcik is no longer performing, but is still teaching at his music school SASOM in Sydney . Turkish and Arabic folk and classical, vocal and instrumental, all levels. He is an excellent teacher. Tel 0419 707 743
For CDs of Turkish music, Kalan Muzik is an excellent record company. All kinds of music – excellent archival stuff as well as contemporary. Online ordering. Artists include Birol Topaloglu, Selim Sesler, Osman Aktas, Yansimalar, Engin Arslan. Site is in English and Turkish. Doublemoon also put out some good stuff, mostly contemporary. Artists include Selim Sesler, Husnu Senlendirici. Beyza Muzik & Yapim also put out some good stuff including recordings by ney master Saddrettin Ozcemi.
Songül Karahasanoglu-Ata, my mey teacher (and Professor at Turkish Music State Conservatory in Istanbul ) has published a how-to-play-mey book (in Turkish): Mey ve Metodu (Inkilap Kitabevi, Yayin Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.,
Ankara Cad. No 95, Sirkeci 34410, Istanbul . ISBN975-10-1083-7)
Anne Hildyard and Rob Bester (of Xenos) have published Gajda Tunes of Macedonia, a book of gaida tunes they collected in Northern Greece – good stuff. www.xenosmusic.com
www.maqamworld.com Arabic music site in English including introductory explanation of maqam system
The only book on Arabic music in English I know is Habib Hassan Touma: The Music of the Arabs (New Expanded Edition 1996. Amadeus Press, Reinhard G. Pauly General Editor, Portland, Oregon. ISBN 0-931340-88-8)
http://www.duduk.com/ has useful info on duduk. I can’t personally vouch for their products – feedback, anyone?
For baglama, oud and other stringed instruments I can recomment Yusuf Toraman of Istanbul, an old friend and master instrument-maker. His website is in Turkish only: http://www.toramanmuzik.com Adress: Toraman Muzik Evi San Tic. STI., Kucuk Langa Cad. Yuruk Palas No 40/3, Aksaray – Istanbul. Tel: 0 212 589 5858/530 1616
- Kim Sanders
