Re: Ottoman surprise

[Owen Davidson <owend...>]

There was indeed a lot of musical interaction among the ethnic groups.  Some
of the greatest exponents of Turkish art music were Armenians (such as oud
virtuoso Marko Melkon).  One of the best-loved singers of Smyrniot Greek
cafe music was a Jewish woman named Roza Eskinazi.  And there was a
recording studio in Istanbul run by music store owners Julius and Hermann
Blumenthal, who recorded Turkish art music.

Owen



At 12:03 AM 4/2/98 EST, you wrote:
>I remember hearing on Sunrise Semester that cities in earlier Ottoman times
>had Jewish, Christian, Armenian and Islamic Quarters.  Everybody had their
>respected identity, trade worked, cultures kept together for cultural
>integrity and dealt around town for economic practicality.  I remember
>thinking that it was a remarkably enlightened system... a far cry from
>"Mohammed or the sword."  
>
>I'll bet there was some great fusion proto-klezmer jamming too!
>
>-Stan
>
>
_________________________________________________________________________
        Owen Davidson, Amherst, Mass.
        The Wholesale Klezmer Band

        The Angel that presided o'er my birth
        Said Little creature formd of Joy and Mirth,
        Go love without the help of any King on Earth. 

                                Wm. Blake