Constantinople

The 15th and 16th Centuries have been described as the «Golden Age» of Spanish and Italian music, but they were also without a doubt the golden age of Persian and Central Asian music. The great masters of the European Renaissance created their own signature of polyphony. Into what was essentially Franco-Flemish music of the time they wove influences left by the monodic tradition such Cantigas de Santa Maria and also by the Moors and the Muslim cultures so present in medieval Spain. During this time, the courts of Shah Ismail and Sultan Suleyman in the East, welcomed and trained some of the most remarkable musicians, composers, and theoreticians to grace the pages of the musical history of these regions.  This musical journey from Sevilla to Isfahan brings into dialogue the music of the Spanish, Italian and French Renaissance with Persian/Ottoman masterpieces taken from manuscripts unearthed in monasteries and palace libraries such as Topkapi.  Kiya Tabassian, Persian setar master and his renowned Constantinople ensemble, embark on a musical journey through Iberia, Italy, Persia, and Central Asia, revisiting music notable for its sumptuous colour and exceptionally rich beauty.

Kiya Tabassian, setar & voice // Didem Basar, kanun // Tanya LaPerrière, viola d’amore // Hamin Honari, tombak, daf // Kianoush Khalilian, nay (reed flute) // Patrick Graham, percussion