Abazino-Adyghe tunes

Umar Abidet ve Kaffaeher

These Circassian songs were composed by the Queen of Pshina: Abeeda Womar!
I have recorded, rearranged and produced this amazing song, and played it live in Jarash festival (2022), in participation with Al Jeel Al Jadeed

Abeeda Fusion

Abeeda Fusion | Jarash 2022

On the day of the end of the Russian-Caucasian war of 1763-1864, on the day of memory and sorrow of the Circassians, we publish another album-manifesto from Jrpjej.

In addition to music, the album is accompanied by a pdf-zine with our reflection on Circassian songs of the 20th century and their relevance today

"Sefitse" is a line from the song "Quedzoqo Tole Tsiku."
In the Adyghe language, "se" is a homonym that means both milk and bullet. To intensify the tragedy, the bullet in the song is called black. We found this metaphor and wordplay profound. Death and the life-giving drink go hand in hand, as death permeates the everyday life of wartime.

It is important for us to release this album on May 21st, the Day of Remembrance for the Adygs. For several years now, we have been releasing special albums on this day. Most often, these are songs from the period of the Russo-Caucasian War. The accompanying text to these albums hardly changes, just as the official discourse in the political space of the North Caucasus does not change. In fact, it has only gotten worse — the Jrpjej 2022 album was our protest against the ban on the mourning procession in Nalchik.

In 2023, the traditional procession is once again officially banned for fabricated reasons. Therefore, any action that helps people remember and resist assimilation seems particularly important to us.

Songs about the executed Zalimgery Keref, the battle of Kars, of Tole Kodzoko bleeding in the trench, and others tell us that the methods of repression do not change. But no matter how much our voices are drowned out, these songs still resonate. One hundred years ago and right now.

This album is about memory, action, and solidarity



Jrpjej

Timur Kodzoko
Daiana Kulova
Alan Shawdjan
Gupsa Pashtova
Astemir Ashiboko
Zaurkan Mazlo

Session musicians:

Aslan Tashu
Dzhanet Siukhova
Iland Khadjaev

Recorded on September 2022 and April 2023.
Recording location: “Dom Radio”, Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria

Sound and mixing: Timur Kodzoko
Cover art: Milana Khalilova
Liner notes: Bulat Khalilov
Translation: Bella Mirzoeva

more: https://oredrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/efitse-circassian-songs-of-xx-century

04 Quedzoque Tole Tsık’u (Altıdoquehe Dolet Tsık’u Yi Wored)

Disclaimer: We are releasing this album to show our support for our friends and some of the key figures behind Jrpjej's distinctive sound - Diana Kulova and Alan Sheudzhen. Everything is going well for them - they recently welcomed a beautiful daughter. With this release, we want to share in their joy and celebrate the years of collaboration, the countless miles traveled, and the heaps of inappropriate humor (coming from us). Below, we've provided Diana and Alan's contact details - feel free to send them your best wishes.

Back in 2021, when the coronavirus pandemic lseemed like the worst nightmare, casting a shadow over life, Ored Recordings, alongside Jrpjej and Zaur Nagoev, embarked on their inaugural international tour to the Netherlands.

Today, we look back on that period as one of the brightest chapters in the label's and the band's history - a time of voyages, strolls, responsive audience, and the genuine delight of provincial Circassians who ventured on an actual European tour.

Yet, reminiscing about all the meticulous groundwork with documents and logistics, it wasn't the simplest of journeys.

More:https://oredrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/katzwijm-sessions

08 Nabgiş Zefakue

Nalmes Pshinawaxer P2

Абзагу, Радица, Сарида - Цвижба - Абхазское Попурри

chechen lyric tunes

Alan Shawdjan is a Circassian repatriate from Syria, a descendant of mukhagirs, who had to move from Caucasus during the Russian-Caucassian war in 19 century. The outcome of the war tragic for Circassians, it spilled them all over the world and shattered the whole nation. But everything turned out wi to be interesting results in culture: dissimilar dialekts and styles appeared in the most diasporas.
Globalization reaches them ,too. That is why Turkish, Jordan and Syrian Circassians often copy the manner of variety musicians from Caucasus (more often Kabardinian)

Circassians in the diaspora often romanticize their historical homeland and some perceive their sound as “wrong” and non-authentic. Sometimes the transition to pop style occurs unconsciously.
Therefore, it is important for us that Alan plays exactly in the Syrian style. Yes, he also fell under the influence of fashion and can play the standard “kavkaz”, but this is not about patterns, but diversity.
The Circassians of Syria were kept apart from the Arab musical tradition: few people use oud or daf - only some exceptions. Most of the tunes are not Arabic, but Circassian. But oriental melody is heard in all the “original” material. If Circassian music for harmony and accordion from other regions is primarily accompaniment to a song or dance, while the “Syrians” play all the melodies meditatively. Perhaps this is more music for listening than for folk parties. Here you can draw analogies with maquam music of the East, but so far these are our superficial impressions.
Alan’s approach is also interesting. He is not an old man who preserves traditions, but a young enthusiastic musician playing for pleasure. He heard most of the tunes during the traditional parties, but more often from the playlist on the phone. He just listened and played. Shawdjan did not go into the context of Circassian music, he is not even sure about the names of the melodies (that is why they were published by untitled tracks). However, he knows a lot of material and easily improvises in the traditional framework.
We recorded Alan at Timur Kodzoko’s home, in a room with terrible acoustics, but an amazing atmosphere.

Alan Shawdjan - accordion
Beabars Appesh - vocals and percussion

Sound recording: Timur Kodzoko
Cover photo: Mitya Lyalin
Cover art: Milana Khalilova
Notes: Bulat Khalilov
Recorded in Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia,
04.2020

04 Quedzoque Tole Tsık’u (Altıdoquehe Dolet Tsık’u Yi Wored)

kavkazmusic

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