Some nice music

December 31, 2014 4:44 AM

The Üçtelli is a small Turkish string instrument that produces a lovely, delicate, chiming sound. Here is an utterly captivating duo performance by Osman Kirca and Ali Ulutaş. Here is another one. Here is a solo by Ali Ulutaş, and a solo by Osman Kirca. Here is a double neck version, played splendidly by Necati Arslan. And finally, one more solo performance from Ali Ulutaş featuring some very closeup camera work on his fingers as he plays his Üçtelli. Enjoy!
posted by flapjax at midnite (9 comments total)

I've always been interested with folk/classical music from Greece / Turkey / Bulgaria etc. where it seems what Americans consider "odd meter" (5/4, 7/8, 9/8, etc.) is more of a natural thing. Maybe music spreads and mutates over generations like languages do, and there's some common root.
posted by kurumi at 8:58 AM on December 31, 2014

Now all I want is to hear Gli Uccelli performed on an Üçtelli.
posted by benito.strauss at 10:09 AM on December 31, 2014

I love strange and traditional instruments. Lark in the Morning is a good resource for finding them. They have a Web catalog, but the paper catalog is so much fun.

Anyway, thanks for bringing this to my attention.
posted by key_of_z at 12:06 PM on December 31, 2014

Delicate, beautiful, like random rain for the soul.
posted by Oyéah at 2:55 PM on December 31, 2014 [1 favorite]

"Maybe music spreads and mutates over generations like languages do, and there's some common root."

Bulgaria and Greece were both part of the Ottoman Empire so there's your common influence right there.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 9:40 PM on December 31, 2014

Thanks for posting this, the instrument's got an interesting and delicate sound.
posted by edlundart at 12:16 AM on January 1, 2015

Here's Erol Parlak playing one (also here).
posted by klausness at 9:01 AM on January 4, 2015

Thanks, klausness, those are lovely.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:21 PM on January 4, 2015

Great post. I would love to learn to play such a gorgeous instrument but sadly I don't have an adequate mustache.
posted by twsf at 5:23 PM on January 5, 2015 [1 favorite]