I hope you enjoy it.



The instrument is called the Santor and I think it's amazing!

Wow, sounds amazing. I often listen to music that sounds a bit like that but I had never heard of the santor before. I may have heard it in some songs but maybe I didn´t pay attention to it. Thanks for the link.

Love it!

i thought it was brilliant, but you can't dance to it...I give it a 7.5

Very nice

That's one of the most beautiful pieces of music I've heard in a while. Thank you for posting it.

... I've always called Persians Arabs and they've had to correct me. Guess I've learnt my lesson by now though.

novabrkr said:

Persians HATE being compared to Arabs because of what the Arabs did to them and because they feel superior to Arabs. They still use the Arabic script though, except for a few extra letters that don´t exist in the Arabic alphabet but are required in order to write certain Persian words.

I´m Turkish and a lot of people think that Turks, Kurds, Arabs and Persians are all the same and speak the same language or that the languages are related but that is not the case, even though Ottoman Turkish was heavily influenced by the Persian and Arabic language and the elite used to speak Farsi.
So, when it comes to religion and language and ethnicity, they are not really related.But they do share some cultural similarities when it comes to cooking and music. And they all love black tea and strong coffee.

Hmmm. I don't think most Europeans would lump in the Turkish with the arabs. It's seen more as a mixture of both worlds. Now, you could attempt to say "Turkey is actually a lot like Greece...", but you know what kind of hellish consequences would break loose due to a statement like that.

I might have a bit better view on the subject because I've been there several times though, and my mother was nuts about the country when I was a kid. In fact, I don't personally even see it "somewhere between Europe and Middle East", it's more of a unique setting altogether. At least the more urban areas.

That clip really does make me want to try out the instrument in question myself, though.

novabrkr said:

You´re right, I avoid such discussions like the plague these days.

Good to know that there are people out there who know how to differentiate.
What cities did you visit? Part of my family lives in Istanbul but most of my relatives actually hail from the southern westcoast, Aydin,Kusadasi, Izmir. I really miss being there.I´d also love to visit Greece one day if both countries finally come to their senses....maybe when I´m senile. I will definitely visit some Greek islands real soon though,it´s only half an hour from where my uncle lives.




Breakfast, Turkish style





[Edited 9/1/09 4:16am]

very cool stuff

Sadly, most people in my country have absolutely no idea about this part of the world.

The Persian friend who sent me the link, Majid, is here as a student and he's such a fantastic, intelligent and calm person. However, some people he meets react the same when he tells them he is from Iran. They say stupid things like "do you support Bin Laden" and other such pathetic and ignorant things. Imagine coming from such a beautiful and old culture that brings us amazing things like this music and having things like that said to you because the other person wallows in ignorance. So sad

My Korean friends have experienced similar though not so much as there is an enormous Korean community here. On the odd occasion a few of them have had to explain that they come from the "good" Korea.

That horrific Axis of Evil speech did so much damage. Ignorant people should think before opening their mouths, especially when they are in a position of power.

I love this music and I love the comments. Thanks for checking it out everybody!!!
[Edited 9/1/09 8:00am]

Edit - was trying to edit but double posted instead.

Tired.
[Edited 9/1/09 7:59am]

Gorgeous. Is this essentially the Persian culture's answer to the hammered dulcimer?

Lammastide said:

That's what I thought. I had to clarify with Majid the name of the instrument because I thought it sounded like a dulcimer