Upcoming release – Zalzalian Crossings

Description

Rooted in Ottoman Turkish and Arabic classical repertoires, and in dialogue with the Italian Trecento tradition, this recording brings together Lamia Yared (vocals, composition) alongside an ensemble of distinguished collaborators: Antonino Anastasia (tamburello, riqq, bendir), Fahrettin Yarkın (daîre, bendir), Nağme Yarkın (Istanbul kemençe), Nikos Andrikos (lavta, guest vocals), Peppe Frana (lute, oud, arrangements), Savaş Özkök (kanun), and Volkan Ertem (cello).

At the crossroads of Istanbul, Florence, and the Mashreq, the album unfolds as a musical journey shaped through both collective and individual arrangements. I’ vo Benestenigâr is based on I’ vo bene, an original piece by Gherardello da Firenze (c. 1320, Florence), reimagined by Lamia Yared from its medieval source material, while Belicha, arranged by Peppe Frana, expands the ensemble’s Ottoman instrumental dimension. Zalzalian Crossings brings together muwashshaḥāt, şarkılar, and Trecento repertoire within a modal suite inspired by the wasla form.

The program emphasizes rarely performed works from the muwashshaḥ tradition by composers such as Omar al-Batch and Ali Darwish, placed in dialogue with earlier sources including Dede Efendi, and reinterpreted through Byzantine manuscript traditions alongside medieval Florentine repertoire.