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

Qazt is a traditional game among the Ossetians. It is a ritualistic, musical, dance, and social space that forms on various festive occasions.
During the qazt, young people would socialize, boys would showcase their courage, and they would compete in various heroic and joyful activities.
Analogues of qazt can be found among other peoples in the Caucasus. For example, among the Circassians, such festive dances are called dzhagu. The semantics of the Ossetian word "qazt" and the Circassian "dzhagu" are even the same — "game."
In 2020, we traveled to Vladikavkaz to explore the urban qazts, make a documentary film, and issue this release. We were interested in qazt as a new cultural phenomenon, an event of urban culture, and a modern form of Ossetian self-organization.
During the pandemic years, traditional dances on the streets of Vladikavkaz became a noticeable event — qazts were covered by Caucasian media and Ossetian bloggers. We were invited to film the event by Alik Pukhaev, the author of the Rajdian blog.
In 2020, qazts seemed to be a growing initiative. This youth movement had it all: a vibrant cultural component, moderate protest, and an orientation towards the future, rather than a romantic desire to return to the past, where everything was considered better, purer, more authentic, and more national.


More: https://oredrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/qazt-ossetian-urban-rituals-in-vladikavkaz

08 Зæринæ

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

08 Зæринæ

kavkazmusic

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