Customer Reviews

Crescent Moon

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Like "Mystical Garden," this CD is just about perfect. Most of the material is firmly based in tradition, but it's given a stellar performance by virtuoso (and fabulously creative) musicians. The electronics are used to enhance rather than drown the acoustic instrumentation, and the only synthesizer-based piece, "Salute to the Sun," is stylistically akin to Middle Eastern vocal music. Also, the CD is nicely balanced between the spiritual, the sensual, and the downright funky (like "Tamzara"). It's a thorough pleasure to listen to, and if you're a dancer it'll have you up and moving within thirty seconds (well, it did me!). My only complaint is that there isn't a list of who's playing what instrument for each track, or any explanation of the songs themselves: I enjoy music more if I know something about its background, and I'm still a beginner where Middle Eastern music is concerned. (And why, oh why, isn't there a list of songs on the back cover of the CD? This is true of every Celestial Harmonies CD I own, and I find it highly annoying to have to pull out and unfold the booklet to find the song I want. Get with it, folks!!) Other than these minor quibbles, I enjoy this CD thoroughly, and I know it's one I'll listen to often.

Tekbilek brings out again the best of traditional Islamic-Turkish music. With his extraordinary ability of interpretation and mastery on ney, saz and drums, among other instruments, he never betrays the traditional form while, at the same time, blowing a new spirit into it. In addition to the masterly performance of traditional instruments, Briane Keane is also to be congratulated for his 'behind-the-closed-doors' contribution.

In this albume, baglama (or saz, a lute instrument of Turkish folk music) makes its presence felt in tracks 1 and especially 5, 'Baglama Delight' which is no less sweeter than the Turkish delight!

Hasan Isikkut, the kanun player of the group, has given another example of celestial music in track 7 to which you can listen almost endlessly.

If you know Tekbilek, you will not be diasppointed.

I. Kalin.

....if I may be so cliche! He just gets better, and this CD is for ANY collection of ethnic music. Frame drum,doumbek and nay; just to name a few of the instruments played (superbly).....Don't like the nay? This will even please sensitive, western ears. Dancers will find that unusually sensual and 'something special' to dance to. This CD will hold any fan of Mr. Tekbilek until the next one comes!

You can't go wrong choosing any of Omar Faruk Tekbilek's albums! "Crescent Moon" is a beautiful collection of Turkish melodies and exotic rhythms; guaranteed to thrill lovers of Middle Eastern music.

I love it. Especially that last track - it just takes me away from this world and lifts me up somewhere up there in the heavens...

Crescent Moon is a masterpiece. Omar Faruk Tekbilek will touch your soul. I usually reserve praise of this magnitude, but there are few albums in the world as beautiful as this.

Omar Faruk Tekbilek's "Crescent Moon" is a great CD. The first time I heard it, I was taking a Belly Dancing series. We began to work on veil, and the instructor put on this CD. It took me right into a trance-like state. I was no longer in a room with other people. I was in the marketplace, and in India. I was entirely moved by the sensuality of the music, and also the playfulness of some of the faster tracks. I would definetly recommend this CD, particularly for veil work. Enjoy!

   I look forward to actually purchasing the CD as I love music from this part of the world, but haven't done so yet, so this obviously isn't really a "review" per se...... Just wanted to make one small correction to Derek Rath's review. I'm sure it was just an oversight or typo on his part, but I believe he meant to describe the crescent moon symbol as Ottoman, not Byzantine. I have only known this symbol to be Islamic and a symbol of the Ottoman (Islamic), not Byzantine (Christian) Empire. Every predominantly Islamic country features the cresent moon on its flag. I always believed it was a symbolic image/vision which originated from Mohammed's teachings . I have never seen it used in Byzantine art or architecture. Perhaps I'm mistaken, but I don't think so.