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Hespèrion XXI: Istanbul
By David Honigmann
FT
January 16 2010 00:13
Hespèrion XXI
Istanbul
Alia Vox
A few centuries later, Dimitrie Cantemir could have been a world music
pioneer. As it was, born in 1673, he had to settle for being Prince of
Moldavia. But while in Istanbul, as diplomat-cum-hostage, he learned
and composed for the tanbur, the long-necked Islamic lute.
His music, mingled with Sephardic songs collected by Isaac Levy and
heartbroken Armenian duduk, is the centrepiece of a new album by the
tireless Jordi Savall and Hespèrion XXI. Like their previous
celebration of Jerusalem, it revels in the meeting of the Abrahamic
faiths.
By David Honigmann
FT
January 16 2010 00:13
Hespèrion XXI
Istanbul
Alia Vox
A few centuries later, Dimitrie Cantemir could have been a world music
pioneer. As it was, born in 1673, he had to settle for being Prince of
Moldavia. But while in Istanbul, as diplomat-cum-hostage, he learned
and composed for the tanbur, the long-necked Islamic lute.
His music, mingled with Sephardic songs collected by Isaac Levy and
heartbroken Armenian duduk, is the centrepiece of a new album by the
tireless Jordi Savall and Hespèrion XXI. Like their previous
celebration of Jerusalem, it revels in the meeting of the Abrahamic
faiths.