The Shahnameh or 'Book Of Kings' is an ancient Iranian epic that recounts the deeds of heroes and champions- virtuous men and women who bravely stood against demons and villains, dragons and fantastic beasts, marauding hordes and evil monarchs. So important was this epic considered that every king, prince or ruler as well as general in the military was compelled to read or hear it regularly, for within its pages are to be found lessons about life.

In the 10th century Persia was undergoing a cultural shift due to the Arab Islamic conquest which brought an end to the rule of ancient kings of the once glorious empire of Iranshahr. The famous poet Firdausi, seeking to maintain a cultural link to this past composed thousands of verses for his Shahnameh, which became the national epic of Iran. Great works of art were also created for this epic, and a national treasure is the book the 'Shahnameh of Tamasp', commissioned by the Shah Ismail I for his son, a book that is highly regarded for its artwork and beautiful calligraphy. Firdausi is credited with keeping alive ancient Iranian history, culture and language, and his 'Shanameh' is a testament to that nation's glorious past. There is a famous story associated with Firdausi, that upon completion of his monumental work he was not paid what he felt he deserved. He complained and that complaint has gone down along with the history of this composition, and we included this amusing aspect of the story as part of the recitation. So old are the complaints of artists, poets and musicians regarding miserly monarchs and sponsors. 

The segment recited here in our recoding is based on the opening part of the epic, 'The Court of Gayumart', the first man placed upon the Earth who taught humanity culture and virtue, lifting him up from the primordial, animal state. This subject inspired a great work of art in that previously mentioned book the 'Shahnameh of Tamasp', depicting the first man Gayumart sitting as on a throne surrounded by beasts, birds, humans an angels. The colors and extremely minute detail of the painting, some fine lines painted with the hair of a squirrel, astound all who view it.  The music is performed on the saz, a long necked lute, and the zarb, a Persian goblet shaped drum made of wood. 

Ismail Butera, recitation & saz
Natalia Perlaza, zarb & percussion

Recorded at Soundworks Studio, Astoria NY 
Copyright Ismail Butera, 2021

Firdausi's Shahnameh/The Court Of Gayumart

A rendition of an actual ancient Egyptian love poem set to music 'On The Far Shore Of The Nile'. Egyptians were an optimistic people who while spiritual and concerned with the afterlife, enjoyed pleasure and fine living. This love poem is a typical romantic song of longing set upon the banks and gentle waves of the great river. 

Deborah Karpel, recitation & vocal
Ismail Butera, lyre & reed flute
Natalia Perlaza, percussion 

Recorded at Soundworks Recording Studio, Astoria NY 
Copyright Ismail Butera 2021

On The Far Shore of The Nile

An ancient Mediterranean folk dance melody from our upcoming online storybook The Fall Of Troy, performed on a variety of traditional instruments. 

Ismail Butera saz, lyre, double reeds, flute
Natalia Perlaza dumbek, percussion 

Recorded at Soundworks Recording, Astoria NY 

@Copyright 2021, Ismail Butera

Ancient Revelry

This is a recitation of one of the many poems found in author Shubhranghu Roy's collection of inspired verses 'Shadows Of The Fragmented Moon'. These are musings by a modern author which are an attempt to unlock the wisdom of the ancients, inspired by the wisdom of the Upanishads. 

Am I Just Another Grain Of Sand? 
from 'Shadows of The Fragmented Moon' by Shubhrangshu Roy

Recitation & Music by Ismail Butera
Recorded and mastered by Kamilo Kratc at
Soundworks Recording Studio, Astoria NY

Am I Just Another Grain of Sand?

The mythologies, stories and tales of ancient, established civilizations were based on even older eras and scenarios. Many of these scenarios reveal an era of heroes and champions, a world that for us today are 'possible' or 'perhaps' civilizations such as Atlantis or Lemuria. There are stories that have come down to us via the Greeks and the Egyptians where there once existed kingdom of high culture. In these narratives we also read about a gender equality that did not exist in the said civilization of Greece or Rome, yet the tales of brave, strong competitive women abound. One such tale is that of Cyrene, who lived in the Pindos Mountains and lived a life that would be the envy of any male champion, like the character Atalanta. She went on to compete in horse racing in far off Libya in what was called 'the third continent', which is one term the Greeks used for Africa. The great poet Pindar immortalized Cyrene in his famous ode 'Pythian 9'.

Ismail Butera: narration & lyre, flutes

Copyright Ismail Butera 2019

Ismail Butera 20170921

Pindar/Pythian 9

Nezahualcoyotl was a powerful Aztec king who ruled the city of Texcoco. As a warrior he expanded the boundaries of his kingdom and ruled as a stern but wise king who is remembered for creating a cultured society. Under his rule Texcoco would become, according to historians, the 'Athens of Mexico', As an architect he built great temples, palaces and schools in the cities of his realm. He was also a scholar, philosopher and poet. Some of his writings have survived, as in this example of his poetry. 

Ismail Butera  recitation, flutes, whistles
Natalia Perlaza, percussion
Deborah Karpe  recitation

Recorded at Soundworks Recording Studio, Astoria NY 
Copyright Ismail Butera, 2016

Aztec Trilogy

A fiercely independent people...
'Danse Amazigh' is our interpretation of folk musical styles from North Africa. Known to the ancient Greeks as Berbers, the Amazigh tribes and kingdoms dominated the region from the Atlas Mountains to Libya and were known for their fierce independence which was supported by martial prowess. Many Amazigh tribes joined the armies of Hannibal when he invaded Italy in 218 BC, after which the region became known as Numidia. In the 7th century AD their warrior queen Dihya brought to a halt for a time the expansion of the Umayyad Caliphate. The Amazigh/Berbers offered nearly continuous resistance to French colonial rule in the 19th century and in the 20th many North African volunteers fought for the French military defending democracy in two world wars. Speaking of democracy and independence, the first country to recognize the newly independent United States Of America after her revolution against Great Britain was Morocco. 

Amazigh music is varied, earthy and passionate. Echoes of Antiquity composed and performed this ancient style melody, overdubbing multiple tracks of various instruments, all held together with driving  frame drumming. This piece serves as an introduction for a recitation based on Amazigh mythology, a creation story, 'The First Mortals'. This tale is interesting, in that it seeks to explain the high status Amazigh society has always afforded towards women, unique in the ancient Mediterranean world. 

Ismail Butera  Lute, rebab, plucked mandolin, flute
Natalia Perlaza  Frame drums, shakers

Image   Ouled Nail Amazigh Girls  Rudolf Lehnert, 1904 

Recorded and mixed at Soundworks Recording Studio, Astoria NY

Copyright Ismail Butera 2023

Danse Amazigh

Reflections upon looking at ancient Greek painted vases, attempting to unravel the story they tell.

Grecian Vase

A segment from our audiobook story based on the ancient Illyrian bardic tradition, The Legend Of The Serpent Goddess is a tragic tale recounting the days of the Roman occupation when the mighty empire recruited young boys from Illyria to become stalwart fighters who would serve in their legions. Tadia is one of many who has seen her brothers march off, never to return. Here, reflecting the pagan nature worship and belief system in which she lived in her time, she pleads with Tana the Illyrian earth mother goddess for forgiveness and to intervene on their behalf, beautifully recited by Dorit Elena K.

Composed by Ismail Butera, Copyright 2024

Legend Of The Serpent Goddess- Prayer To Tana

A recording of a recitation of Mani's beautiful 'The Ships Of Light', accompanied with improvised music performed on the saz and frame drum. Manichaeanism was a Gnostic religion from the era of late antiquity, preached by a prophet named Mani who lived in what is today Iraq in the 3rd century AD. He taught that all the universe was divided into two entities, good and evil and expressed as a struggle between light and darkness, with the soul inhabiting the material body only temporarily, rejoicing upon returning in death to the source of Light which is Divinity and pure bliss. His Gospel mentions that all religious scriptures and traditions shared a message of light, proven in the universal values and basic beliefs shared by all faith traditions, that Jesus, Zoroaster and Buddha among others were messengers of that same, universal message. 

Manichaeism became popular and spread, once found from the shores of the Pacific in China to the French shores of the Atlantic, thus designating it as the world's truly universal religion. Mani and his followers were persecuted however and by the later Middle Ages eventually disappeared, though his narratives of defining the essences of light versus darkness became an important element among many religions, including Christianity and Islam.

Ismail Butera     narration, saz lute
Natalia Perlaza  frame drum

Copyright 2018

The Ships of Light

Regarding the universal theme of the ongoing battle of light versus the darkness, in this segment from our audiobook, the Mayan based story 'The Covenant Of Heaven', the goddess Ixtab, consort of Ah Puch the lord of death, calls upon the envious forces of the underworld known as the Xibalba to rise and resist the efforts of the gods of the heavens to create humanity and bring about illumination in the universe. 

Recitation,  Deborah Karpel & Ismail Butera
Didgeridoo, Natalia Perlaza

Text and music composed by Ismail Butera
Copyright 2024 

Image is a painting from the Mayan murals at Bonampak, Mexico

www.echoesofantiquity.net

Ixtab Calls The Xibalba To War

Pindar's Odes are well known as some of the finest of ancient Greek poetry. The great poet often praised the participants of the Olympic games and athletic competition, acknowledging the effort and striving for perfection as well as the just rewards for such effort. However, despite personal effort and striving Pindar also notes that it is indeed fate that has the final say. 
Recorded @ Soundworks Studios, Astoria NY
Copyright 2017 Ismail Butera

Pindar/Odes

I compose and recite tales based on ancient epics and poetry, as well as perform on a variety of traditional & modern instruments; longed necked lutes, various flutes, lyre and yes, even accordion. Folk music, history and ancient art & literature are my passions. 

Visit my website www.echoesofantiquity.net to hear, see and read about my realm.

Ismail Butera

Popular tracks