Al Asha Be Daha

Al Asha Be Daha

Artist: Leigh Cline & Nikolas Michailidis
Item number: SA002
Category: Pontic
Chant Type: Pontic
Language: Instrumental
Label: Scimitar Records
Period: Contemporary
Length: 64'17
Release date: 2006
Read a description or review of this item.

Price: $15.99 USD
This product usually ships on the next business day.

You may need RealPlayer or Windows Media Player to listen to the music samples below.

1. Enan Astren Ekseven

2. I Mana Kai O Kiris An Ki thelne Se / Tepeler Tepeler

3. Ti Il To Kastron

4. Giresun Karshilamasi

5. O Prosopos Trantafil

6. O Pitikon / Chayeli'nden Oteyi

7. Sarkiz / Hopa'dan Arhavi'dan

8. To Korits Nt'Egapana / Nerelisun Nereli

9. Poion Rashin Kratei Vreshin

10. As'Oksokh Fanairoutai I Foutsani Ta'Spalon

11. Me To Na Eimai Orfanos

12. Ta Nikhtas Ontas Tragodo Afka So Parathiris

13. Tromakhton Tonya

14. Tsambasin

15. Serra

16. Fisera Trapezountas


The title is a traditional Black Sea call for flagging dancers to rejoin the circle: one more time! Canadian multi-instrumentalist Leigh Cline is rightly respected for his work in Greek and Turkish traditions, and here he teams up with Greek vocalist Nikolas Michailidis for a set of 16 pieces from the Turkey/Georgia border. Of Black Sea ancestry, Michailidis plays the three-stringed Pontic fiddle called Pontiaki lyra in Greek and Karadeniz kemencesi in Turkish (much of the repertoire is common to the two communities) as well as the imposing davul drum. His authoritative renditions provide the main narrative of this CD. Liner notes in English, no song lyrics.

By: Benjamin Williams

This is a collarboartion recording by two of today's best performers of Pontic music. It has been best described by Chris Williams of Froots Magazine s "a technically sensitive recording of the vocals and fiddle that has rarely been bettered and the result is a delightful, refreshing CD of Black Sea music." He goes on to say that these are traditional pieces "but what distinguishes the production from many similar releases is Cline?s success in creating a soundscape that can be danced to, and still has the performance quality that repays repeated, close listening. He plays guitar throughout. Now, bad guitar playing ? sometimes by famous names ? can drown modal music by the crass use of primary and sophisticated chords, but Cline displays a musical intelligence that complements and enhances the intriguing harmonic implications of this non-harmonic music. Also, he has negotiated a tempo that invites appreciation of the vocal and lyra line, as well as the underlying pulse. Combine this with a technically sensitive recording of the vocals and fiddle that has rarely been bettered and the result is a delightful, refreshing CD of Black Sea music." That pretty well sums it up, and explains why it is such a pleasure (and an envigorating pleasure at that) to listen to this CD--even if you're not familiar with the music form.