Search - Göksel Kartel :: Art of Taksim

Kanun Improvisations at their Finest

Erika Borsos | Gulf Coast of FL, USA | 10/07/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Goksel Kartal proves just how enjoyable one instrument played by a master musician can be! The fascination of this CD lies in the unusual, complex and exotic music produced by the strings of the kanun. The musician improvises the sounds following the "rules" of "taksim." Each "taksim" allows only specific notes to be played within a musical mode. There are over 120 taksims. The rare beautiful haunting sounds of this music are as extraordinary as the names of the taksims themselves: "hissak", "rast", "saba", "hicaz", "nihaventi" and "huzzam". If Middle Eastern music, stringed instruments, and gypsy music appeal to you ... this CD is a "must have". Unusual rhythms and melodies created on an ancient instrument by a master musician is rare ... grab this one! It's like stepping back into the past ... perhaps, to a time when artistic creativity was more appreciated. Erika Borsos (erikab93)"