Catalogue # AVSA9887

ABC Classic FM CD of the Week: 12th December 2011

The Sublime Porte was the name of the open court of the sultan, led by the Grand Vizier. It got its name from the gate to the headquarters of the Grand Vizier in the Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, where the sultan held greeting ceremonies for foreign ambassadors. It was an ancient Ottoman practice to make the gates of cities and kings’ palaces places of assembly. Later the name came to refer to the Empire’s position as gateway between Europe and Asia.

Following the success of the album ‘Istanbul’, Jordi Savall crosses new boundaries between Orient and Occident: this time, the vocal traditions of the Ottoman Empire, Armenia and the Jewish Diaspora are masterly resuscitated. Instrumental interludes enable us to enjoy this journey through time and space. In addition to Hespèrion XXI, this album features the elite of Turkish traditional musicians under the inspired direction of Jordi Savall.

Segâh Kâr Kâr-i Sesâvâz (XVIIIe.)
Taksim & Makam “Uzzäl usules” Dervis Mehmed
Por alli pasó un cavallero Anonymous Sépharad (Smirna, XVIe.)
Plainte (duo Duduk - flûtes arméniennes) Anonymous Armenia
El Rey que tantomadruga Anonymous Sepharad (Smirna, XVIe.)
Hisar Agir Semai Buhuri Zade Mustafa Itri (ca. 1640-1712)
Taksim & Makam “Bûselik usûles” Dimitrie Cantemir (1673-1723)
Chant Spirituel Jewish traditional
Makam “Rehavi Çember” Tanburi Angeli (1690)
Gazal Improvisation (traditional Turkey)
Taksim & Makam “Hicâz usûles” Anonymous (manuscript D. Cantemir)
Romance Sefarade - Istanbul (M. Figueras)
Hisar Buselik Sarki Tanburi Mustafa Cavus (1700-1770)
Taksim & Danse (Kemancha & perc.) Anonymous - Traditional Armenia
Rast Nakie “Amed ne si” Hace Abdulkadir Meragi (1350-1435)

Gursoy Dincer, Lior Elmaleh & Montserrat Figueras
Hespèrion XXI, Jordi Savall

SACD