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A natolia once existed as the centre of a buoyant Medi-terranean culture where diverse communities peacefully lived side by side. Their music was free from ethnical

and religious identities and drew on the heritage of both their immediate and distant neighbours. In the cities of Asia Minor, especially Constantinople, Smyrna, Bursa and Ayvalık, many ethnic and religious groups had developed an original musical tradition of remarkable beauty. For centuries in these cosmo­politan centres, the interaction between ethnicities – Greek, Turkish, Armenian, Jewish, Slavic, Arabic, Persian, Kurdish and many others – produced a musical culture that could be described as the perfect example of intercultural music production. In this context, it is difficult to determine what is of Turkish or Greek origin, and to distinguish the innovation from what is borrowed. The makam can thus be considered as the basis of a music that constantly reinvents itself.

A whole generation of performers now seems to turn to these forgotten roots, inspired by their nostalgia and beauty. In a time of overall amnesia when oral traditions are dying from an absence of echo and learning channels, artists are devoting themselves to gather the components of this memory.

In this program, specifically inspired by Asia Minor and Anatolia, Çiğdem Aslan and her musicians, although from different back-grounds, refer to that same tradition while reinterpreting it at the same time. By setting historical, geographical and cultural con-texts, and by highlighting the influence of music on their environ-ment, these musicians show us how unique their musical heritage is and how it fits into the history and exile of these communities.

Sami SadakBabel Med Music & Aix-Marseille University

Çiğdem Aslan’s second album ‘A Thousand Cranes’ takes its name after turna (crane), a migratory bird with strong symbolism in many cultures and mythologies. Mostly portrayed as messengers in songs, poems and stories, the cranes are the bearers of teachings, culture and tradition; their longevity standing as a symbol of family, good fortune and eternal youth; their dance a celebration of love and joy. But the cranes will also stand as partners to those missing their homelands and loved ones in the sadness of their exile. Some believe that cranes are carriers of the souls inhabiting our human bodies. Cranes are lovers of freedom, represent prosperity and beauty. But above all, they stand as a symbol of peace…

Like cranes, music travels, taking sounds and stories to different lands; it evolves, changes and yet, remains the same. ‘A Thousand Cranes’ is an effort to tell some of these stories.

Guest MusiciansMatoula Zamani · vocals (6)

Vasilis Lemonias · cello (1, 6, 8, 11, 12)Phillipos Retsios · piano (1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13)

Tahir Palalı, Sevtap Işık · vocals (8)Vasilis Korakakis · bouzouki, guitar, baglama, vocals (2, 9, 12, 13)

BandÇiğdem Aslan · vocals

Nikolaos Baimpas · kanun, santouri, mandolins, vocalsMichalis Kouloumis · violin, vocals

Vasilis Sarikis · percussionColin Somervell · double bass

”Aslan possesses the smokiness that marks a true Rembetiko singer: You can get lost in the sound of her voice…“

Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR

”Aslan’s voice is rich, earthy and penetrating, as sweet as a watermelon and as strong as a demitasse of coffee at mid afternoon.“

George W. Harris, JAzz Weekly

Kardiokleftra – Καρδιοκλέφτρα

Μ’ άναψες καημούς μέσ’ στην καρδιάκαι βάσανα και πίκρες κι αναστεναγμούςέχασα το λογικό μου κι άλλο δε μου μένειαπό θλίψες κι οδυρμούς

Δώσ’ μου ελπίδα φως μουμε μία λέξη σου γλυκιά για να σωθώνα σβήσουν οι καημοί που ‘χωγια σένα στην καρδούλα μου φως μου για σένα μη χαθώ

Αχ, δώσ’ μου τα φιλιά που μου ‘κλεψες σκληράαχ, όταν έγερνες στην αγκαλιά μου μια φορά

Heart thief

You lit longing in my heartAnd cause suffering and bitterness and sorrowI lost my senses and I only left with grievance and wail

Give me hope, my sunshine,One sweet word of yours will save meMy sorrows will faintWithin my heartAnd I won’t get lost for you

Ah, give me the kisses That you stole back harshlyAh, when you used to lean in between my arms Once upon a time

Composition: Ioannis Dragatsis (Ogdontakis)

Arrangement: Nikolaos Baimpas

I Mortissa tis Kokkinias – Μόρτισσα της Κοκκινιάς

Είμαι μια μόρτισσα τσαχπίνα απ’ την Κοκκινιάπου ξετρελαίνω την Αθήνα και τον ΠειραιάΚι όποιος με μένα θα τα μπλέξει αχ ξετρελαίνεταιΜε τις ματιές μου τον τουμπάρω εγώκαι μουρλαίνεται

Αχ αχ έτσιτην περνάω φίνα, μέσα στην ΑθήναΓλέντι τρελό μεθύσι με τους μάγκες στα ΓεράΚαι όλοι με ζηλεύουν μεσ’τη Κοκκινιά

Γιατί ’μαι φίνο εγώ κορίτσι με τα ούλα μουΚαι μου φωνάζουν σαν με βλέπουν, αχ μανούλα μουσπάγω κεφάκι κάθε βράδυ αχ μ’όλη τη μαγκιάΚι έτσι γουστάρω και γλεντάω εγώ στο ψευτοντουνιά

Mortissa from Kokkinia

I am a cute Mortissa from KokkiniaI drive everyone in Athens and Pireas crazyAnd whoever is with me ends up crazyWhen I throw my looks on him I convince himAnd he looses it

Ah, Ah, like thisI have a great time in AthensI party, crazy drinking with the lads in GeraAnd everybody in Kokkinia is jealous of meI am a fine girl

When people see me they call me darlingI enjoy myself every night with all the ladsAnd like that I have fun in this vain world

Composition & Lyrics: Kostas Karipis

Arrangement: Nikolaos Baimpas

Traditionals

Arrangement: Nikolaos Baimpas

Gypsy instrumental from Thrace (linked to track 3)

Ithela na ’rtho to vradi – Ήθελα να ‘ρθω το βράδυ

Ήθελα να ‘ρθω το βράδυ άιντε μ’ έπιασε ψιλή βροχήτο Θεό παρακαλούσα άιντε για να σ’ εύρω μοναχή

Kuzum bana bana da gel gel gelYavrum yavaş yavaş da gelο ήλιος και το φεγγάρι άιντε και το άστρο της αυγής

Σ’ αγαπώ Θεός το ξεύρει άιντε δεν το ξεύρει άλλος κανείςο ήλιος και το φεγγάρι άιντε και το άστρο της αυγής

Kuzum bana bana da gel gel gelYavrum yavaş yavaş da gelο ήλιος και το φεγγάρι άιντε και το άστρο της αυγής

I wanted to come by tonight

I wanted to come and see you last night But it started rainingI was praying to God That you would be alone

Come to me my lamb, come slowly I was praying to God That you would be alone

Only God knows how much I love you and no one elseThe sun, the moon and the star of the dawn

Çile Bülbülüm

Bülbülüm gel de dileSöyle benimle bileSesini duyur eleÇile bülbülüm çile

Issız yuvanda tektinÇekilmez çile çektinKim derdi gülecektinÇile bülbülüm çile, çile bülbülüm çile, çile bülbülüm

Sing my nightingale

Sing my nightingaleSing with meLet the rose hear your voiceSing my nightingale, sing

Lonely at your desolated homeYou suffered the unbearableWho’d say you’d laughSing my nightingale, sing

Composition: Sadettin Kaynak

Lyrics: Vecdi Bingol

Evlerinin Önü Handir

Evlerinin önü handırYanar da yüreğim külhandırGörmeyeli çok zamandır

Ya ben de o güzele yalvarayım mıGelmezse kareleri bağlayayım mıHaydindi hopla da gelŞalvarın topla da gelCebini yokla da gelHaydindi allı güzelLebleri ballı güzelEdası tatlı güzel

Evlerinin önü mersinMevlam da seni bana versinAkşama kalmasın gelsin

Evlerinin önü naneBen kul oldum yane yaneNe akilem ne divane

In front of her house is an inn

In front of her house is an innMy heart is a furnace, burningHaven’t seen her, ages it’s been

Shall I then beg her to comeAnd if not, wear all blackCome on then, come jumpingYour shalwar lifted upAnd your pockets checkedCome on you red-cheekedHoney-lippedSweet mannered beauty

In front of her house is a myrtle treeMay God give you to meMay she come, not late but early

In front of her house is a mint lawnI’m burnt up, heavy and slowNeither wise am I nor crazy

Traditional

Arrangement: Nikolaos Baimpas

Tourna – Τούρνα

Hey ağalar böyle m’olurHali yardan ayrılanınİner ummana dökülürSeli yardan ayrılanın

Gökten turnalar çekilirİner yerlere dökülürOnbeş yaşında bükülürBeli yardan ayrılanın

Με διαβατάρικα πουλιάέρωτες να μην πιάνεις,τούρνα τούρνα τούρνα έρωτες να μην πιάνειςγιατί ‘ναι διαβατάρικακαι γρήγορα τα χάνεις,τούρνα τούρνα τούρνα και γρήγορα τα χάνεις

Karacaoğlan geçmez dilekAtaş aldı yandı yürekSağ yanında hazır gerekSalı yardan ayrılanın

Crane

Tell me aghas*, is this howThe parted from beloved areTheir stream flown into the seaAh heartbroken crane Cranes forsake the skyThey fall to the groundAt the age of fifteenArches the parted’s back

Don’t fall in love withMigrating birdsTourna, don’t fall in loveBecause they migrateAnd soon you will lose themTourna, soon you will lose them

Karacaoğlan**, one never waives their wishHeart’s caught fire, ashOn hand must the partedHave their coffin ready

* A title of honour used in Turkey usually implying respect for age and status. The poet addresses a group of men here.

** Karacaoğlan is the writer’s pseudonym. It was a tradition to include one’s pseudonym on the last verse of a poem. Karacaoğlan was a 17th century folk poet.Traditional

Arrangement: Nikolaos Baimpas

Destmala Min

Destmala min anda bûLi ber derî we keti bûKeçê dîne destmala min tu bîbineEv dile min qul birîne

Kurko dîno çi ez xwarimDestmala te min ne dîyeKî ki diye hilanîye, destmala te kurko dînoEv dile te hez kiriye

My handkerchief

I lost my handkerchiefDropped it in front of your houseCrazy girl, you find my hankyMy heart is all but wounds

You crazy boy, leave me aloneHaven’t seen your hankyWhoever found it, hid itYour heart is in love

Traditional

Arrangement: Nikolaos Baimpas

Zaira – Ζαΐρα

Ζαΐρα θα ‘ρθω να σε κλέψω κάποια βραδιάαπ’ την αγκαλιά του μαχαραγιάσβήνω απ’ τον πόθο μ’ άλλον σαν σε νιώθωαχ Ζαΐρα μου γλυκιά

Γιαλελέλι γιαλελελελι γιαλελέλι ωωωσβήνω απ’ τον πόθο μ’ άλλον σαν σε νιώθωαχ Ζαΐρα μου γλυκιά

Ζαΐρα λάμπεις σαν αστέρι στην αραπιάμ’ άναψες φωτιά δεν αντέχω πιακάστρα θα γκρεμίσω μα δε θα σ’ αφήσωσκλάβα του μαχαραγιά

Γιαλελέλι γιαλελελελι γιαλελέλι ωωωκάστρα θα γκρεμίσω μα δε θα σ’ αφήσωσκλάβα του μαχαραγιά

Zaira

Zaira I will come to steal you one nightFrom the arms of maharajahI’m fading out with lust When I feel you with someone elseAh my sweet Zaira

Yaleleli yaleleleli yaleleli oohI’m fading out with lust When I feel you with someone elseAh my sweet Zaira

Zaira you’re shining like a star in EgyptYou set me on fire, I can’t stand it anymoreI will destroy castles but I won’t leave youSlave of maharajah

Yaleleli yaleleleli yaleleli oohI will destroy castles but I won’t leave youA slave of maharajah

Composition: Vasilis Tsitsanis, Lyrics: Vasilis Tsitsanis, Kostas Virvos

Arrangement: Nikolaos Baimpas

Vasilis Tsitsanis published by Seed Point music publishing

Composition: Vasilis Tsitsanis, Lyrics: Vasilis Tsitsanis, Kostas Virvos

Arrangement: Nikolaos Baimpas

Vasilis Tsitsanis published by Seed Point music publishing

Gennithika gia na Pono – Γεννήθηκα για να πονώ

Γεννήθηκα για να πονώκαι για να τυραννιέμαιτην ώρα που σε γνώρισαβαριά την καταριέμαι

Με πλήγωσες και δεν ξεχνώπου τόσο έχω κλάψεινα γίνει η κατάρα μουφωτιά και να σε κάψει

Κι αν τώρα κάνω μια ζωήπου πάντα τη μισούσαγια όλα εσύ ευθύνεσαιπου τόσο αγαπούσα

Θα το φωνάξω σαν τρελήο κόσμος να το μάθειτα βάσανα που τράβηξαγια σένα τα ‘χω πάθει

Βorn to suffer

I was born to sufferAnd to be tyrannisedΙ damn heavilyThe day that I met you

And if now I am living a lifeThat I always hatedIt’s all your faultBecause I loved you very much

You hurt me and I can’t forgetHow much I have criedMay my curseBe fire and burn you

I will scream like crazySo that the world knowsThat the anguish I sufferedWas all your fault

I Lili i Skandaliara – Η Λιλή η σκανδαλιάρα

Δε με μέλλει εμένα αν είσαι αλάνις απ’ τον Κοπανάκαι τον ντούρο βρε μάγκα μη μου κάνεις, και με φοβερνάς

Γιατί είμαι εγώ η αλανιάραη Λιλή η πρώτη σκανταλιάραπου δε δίνω γρόσι για τους μάγκεςκαι δεν τρώγω τρίχες ματσαράγκες

Βρε αλάνι να φύγεις από μένα, κοίταξε κι αλλούμην πλερώσεις βρε μόρτη τα σπασμένα, κι είμαι μπελαλού

Και δε φοβούμαι τα μαχαίρια,τα νταήδικά σου τα μπεγλέρια,και νταμίρα όσο κι αν φουμάρειςβρε αλάνι δε θα με τουμπάρεις

Μη σε μέλλει αν είμαι απ’ τον Περαία, ή απ’ την Κοκκινιάκι αν μεθάω και κάνω εγώ παρέα, με όλο τον ντουνιά

Εγώ είμαι εκείνη η αλανιάραη Λιλή η πρώτη σκανταλιάραπου δε δίνω γρόσι για του μάγκεςκαι δεν τρώγω τρίχες ματσαράγκες

Cheeky Lili

I don’t care if you are a vagrant from KopanasDon’t play the hard one to me, and threaten me

Because I’m a flirty oneLili the cheeky oneI don’t give a damn for the ladsAnd I don’t like the cheats

Go away from me, you urchin, Look for someone elseDon’t deal with the consequences, I’m trouble

I’m not afraid of the knivesOr your worry beadsAnd as much hashish as you puffYou won’t coax me

Don’t worry if I’m from Piraeus or from KokkiniaAnd if I get drunk and hang out with the whole world

I’m that flirty oneLili the cheeky oneI don’t give a damn for the ladsAnd I don’t like the cheats

Composition & Lyrics: Panagiotis Toundas

Arrangement: Nikolaos Baimpas

Lingo Lingo Şişeler (11 part 1)

Giydiğim atlasİğneler batmazYar bensiz yatmaz hacı cavcavOh canıma değsin

ŞişelerLingo lingo şişelerArakı mı içtin sen bensizÇamura mı düştün dümensizyar yar yar yar yar yar aman

Giydiğim beyazGeceler ayazBu da bir mıraz havı cavcavOh canıma değsin

Clinking bottles

I’ve dressed in satinThat no needle can pierceMy beloved can’t sleep without meServes you right

Bottles, lingo lingo bottles*Drank raki without me?Fell in the mud, rudderless?My love, aman**

I’ve dressed in whiteThe nights are frostyThis is another wish (haci cav cav)Serves you right

* onomatopoeic sound of clinking bottles

** has various meanings: please, oh God, mercy, my goodness, etc.

Traditional

Arrangement: Nikolaos Baimpas

Ana Mori – Trakya KarŞılaması (11 part 2)

Ana mori* anaDiksene donumiSöyleyeyim sana daÇiftetelli** oyuni

Ana mori anaPişirsene gözlemeBen kocaya kaçcam daSakın beni özleme

Oh mother

Mother, oh motherSew my nicker upI’ll sing you aCiftetelli** dance

Mother, oh motherBake me some pastryI’ll run away with a guyDon’t you ever miss me

* Mori is an expression used in the Balkans to call out to a female person. It also means girl, lady.

** Çiftetelli (τσιφτετέλι in Greek) is a form of rhythm and dance of Anatolia and the Balkans, with a rhythmic pattern of 4/4.

Traditional

Arrangement: Nikolaos Baimpas

Feraye’ dir kızın adı (12 part 1)

Feraye’ dir kızın adı FerayeYar yandım aman esmer yarim deAman da aman Feraye

Türkmen de kızı katarlamış mayayıYar yandım aman esmer yarim deAman da aman mayayıNinni ninna ninni ninna… Aman da aman Feraye

Feraye

Feraye is her name,Ah my brunette love, I’m burntAman Feraye

The Turkmen girl has lined up the yeastAh my brunette love, I’m burntAman Feraye

Traditional

Arrangement: Nikolaos Baimpas

Apopse Sto Diko Sou Mahala (12 part 2)

Απόψε τα `πια για καλάμες στον δικό σου μαχαλάνα βρω κουράγιο να σου πωπως μου `χεις πάρει το μυαλό

Έλα αγάπη μου χρυσήέλα να πιούμε ένα κρασίκι ύστερα πάμε στη μαμάνα βρει κουμπάρο και παπά

Θε να σου χτίσω μια φωλιάνα σε ζηλεύει η γειτονιά,θα `σαι το γλέντι μου εσύχορός τραγούδι και κρασί

Tonight at your neighbourhood

Tonight I got pretty drunk,In your neighbourhood,To find the courage to tell youThat you have taken my mind

Come my darlingTo drink a glass of wineAnd let’s go to your motherTo find a best man and a priest

Do you want me to build you a homeSo that all the neighbourhood envies youYou will be my feast Dance, song and wine

Composition: Spyros Peristeris

Lyrics: Minoas Matsas

To Minore tis Avgis – Το μινόρε της αυγής

Ξύπνα, μικρό μου, κι άκουσεκάποιο μινόρε της αυγής,για σένανε είναι γραμμένοαπό το κλάμα κάποιας ψυχής

Το παραθύρι σου άνοιξερίξε μου μια γλυκιά ματιάΚι ας σβήσω πια τότε, μικρό μου,μπροστά στο σπίτι σου σε μια γωνιά

Minor song of dawn

Wake up my little one and listenTo this minor song of the dawnIt is written for you onlyBy some poor crying soul’s tearful sad croon

Open your window,Throw a sweet glance at me,And let me then fade out, my little one,At a corner, in front of your home

Composition: Spiros Peristeris

Lyrics: Minoas Matsas

Intro Composition: Nikolaos Baimpas

I’d like to express my gratitude to:

The musical director and band leader Nikolaos Baimpas for his friendship and immense amount of work preparing and recording the album; to the band members Michalis Kouloumis, Vasilis Sarikis and Colin Somervell for their exceptional performance and recording the whole album live in three days; to the wonderful Matoula Zamani and Vasilis Korakakis for adding their fabulous voices to mine: to our remarkable guest musicians Phillipos Retsios, Vasilis Lemonias and Sevtap Işık for their great work; to Giannis Baxevanis and AntArt Studio for recording and mixing it beautifully; to Tahir Palalı for another amazing album cover and the additional vocal recordings; to Helmut Neumann and the whole Asphalt Tango crew, Melek Erdal, Sami Sadak, Sara Bouskela, Cemile Özkan, Savvia Kozakou, Anastasis Pissourios, Herbert Grammatikopoulos, Gözde Böcü, Kenan Ozcan, Bill A. Betote, Garth Cartwright, Sevil Kotan and the Aslan family for their contributions to the album; to all of my listeners for their love and

support since the beginning of the crane’s journey.

With the hope and wish that peace arrives on our planet soon on the wings of cranes...

Çiğdem

recorded and mixed by Giannis Baxevanis at AntArt Studio, Athensall tracks recorded live except vocals for tracks 1,2,3,4,8,9,12,13 recorded by Tahir Palalı, London.

mastered by Tom Meyer at Master & Servant, Hamburg, 2016

produced by Çiğdem Aslan & Nikolaos Baimpasmanagement: Tourna Productions info@cigdemaslan.com, www.cigdemaslan.com

booking contact:phone: +49 (0)30 2858528 · agency@asphalt­tango.de

www.asphalt-tango.de

photos by Herbert Grammatikopoulos, Gözde Böcü, Phillipos Retsios,Kenan Özcan, Bill A. Bé totè, Thomas Renz, Marili Zarkou

cover photo by Tahir Palalı · www.tpvfx.co.uk artwork by Claudia Bachmann

translations and edits by Çiğdem Aslan, Nikolaos Baimpas and Sara Bouskela

executive production by Helmut Neumann & Henry Ernstmade in Germany

& © 2016Asphalt Tango Records GmbH

Berlin – Germanyrecords@asphalt-tango.de

www.asphalt-tango.de

More outstanding music on www.asphalt­tango.de and in all fine record stores.

CD-ATR 5116119102

& © Asphalt Tango Records GmbH 2016 Total playing time: 52:02www.asphalt-tango.de

1. Kardiokleftra (Heart thief) 3:072. I Mortissa tis Kokkinias (Mortissa from Kokkinia) 2:463. Ithela na ‘rtho to Vradi (I wanted to come by tonight) 5:104. Çile Bülbülüm (Sing my nightingale) 2:025. Evlerinin Önü Handır (In front of her house is an inn) 2:346. Tourna (Crane) 4:337. Destmala Min (My handkerchief) 2:538. Zaira (Zaira) 3:049. Gennithika gia na Pono (Born to suffer) 3:5110. I Lili i Skandaliara (Cheeky Lili) 3:4911. Lingo Lingo Şişeler – Ana Mori (Clinking bottles – Oh mother) 5:0712. Feraye – Apopse Sto Diko Sou Mahala (Feraye – Tonight at your neighbourhood) 5:5313. To Minore tis Aygis (Minor song of dawn) 5:48

From the 1920’s Smyrna and Istanbul of Çiğdem’s debut album ‘Mortissa’, ‘A Thousand Cranes’ expands to Athens, the Balkans and South East Anatolia. A band of world class musicians, led once again by the musical director Nikolaos Baimpas, accompanies her jour-ney with a modern and crisp sound, embellishing the deep rooted melodies with modern jazzy influences and inspired improvisations. As a continuation of the journey, this second album was recorded in one of Athens’ historical studios AntArt, where the likes of Theodorakis and Hadjidakis recorded their most famous compositions.