Music Of The Dancing Boys, Vol. 2

Music Of The Dancing Boys, Vol. 2

Volume two of this essential and superbly played survey of music from Turkey's Ottoman Empire is dedicated to the repertoire of kÃ¶Ã§ek dancers, longhaired boys who performed in women's clothing. For 200 years they were welcomed at the sultan's court or the homes of powerful patrons, but most were employed at taverns. The most popular soloists even caused periodic riots, but theirs' was a short-lived profession. Once their beards grew in, they were forced to retire and became musicians, prostitutes, or embittered has-beens. Their surviving accompaniments date from the late 19th century and are sinuous, juicy, and drop-dead sexy. The most common rhythm is an Anatolian-derived 9/8 known as aksak, which is synonymous with unbridled sensuality. The style is not closely related to Arabic raks sharki (belly dance) music, but traces of it still turn up in certain Greek and Jewish klezmer traditions. --Christina Roden
Country USA
Brand Traditional Crossroads
Manufacturer Traditional Crossroads
Binding Audio CD
ReleaseDate 2000-11-21
UnitCount 1
UPCs 780702430229
EANs 0780702430229