Yansimalar
Encyclopedia
Yansımalar or Yansimalar in the West, is a Turkish
group that compose and play contemporary ethnic music, classified as world music
in the Western world. It is sometimes listed as Grup Yansımalar (formal Turkish prefix for bands).
It was founded in 1990 by Birol Yayla (guitarist, tanbur
lutist) and Aziz Şenol Filiz (ney
flutist). Their 2004 album Pervane ("Moth") was a noted world music album in Europe. They contributed the music for several Turkish movies, and are featured on the soundtrack of the film The Last Ottoman: Yandim Ali (2007).
About their music, Mario Levi
(the Turkish novelist from Izmir) wrote in his introduction to Pervane, "Some songs speak to you without words. Because those songs have a language. A language with its source in your personal history, or in collective memory. Some songs seem to caress you, and some, in the middle of the night, jar you to your depths. It's a bit as if these songs, with the passing of time, write their stories into you. From the first time I listened to the songs of 'Yansımalar', I have always had this feeling, and for me, this story continues in 'Pervane'. [...]".
Yansımalar 2004, Pervane, op. cit.
In 1991 and 1995, the founding pair recorded two albums, released by the newly created record label Kalan Müzik
(1991). In 1996, the band was joined by Engin Gürkey (percussions) and Nezih Yeşilnil (double bass), who appear on the 3rd and following albums. In 2001, four guest musicians participated to the recording of the 4th album, and in 2004, eight guests are featured on the 5th album, including noted fretless guitarist Erkan Oğur
.
They contributed music (along with Baba Zula
) to the soundtrack for Derviş Zaim
's first film, Tabutta Rövaşata (1996). And the music for Altın Kanatlar (2002, TV documentary), Ferhat'la Şirin (2002, movie), Esir Şehrin İnsanları (2003, TV miniseries featuring Oktay Kaynarca
and Zeynep Tokuş
). They were regular guests of music shows on BRT
in 1999-2000 and on TRT
in 2002-2003.
In 2007, they contributed music to the soundtrack of The Last Ottoman: Yandim Ali (Son Osmanlı: Yandım Ali), a noted Turkish film
, based on a comic book by Suat Yalaz
. Yansımalar (Birol Yayla) composed the music for 2 tracks, and the band contributed strings to about half of the tracks. The music was produced by Prince Claus Award laureate Hasan Saltık
, founder of the Kalan record label.
Guest musicians (albums from 1991 to 2004)
Alphabetically: Suren Asaduryan (2001: duduk
double reed flute), Reyent Bölükbaşı (2001: cello
), Pınar Duruk (2004: cello
), Samim Karaca (2001, 2004: oud
lute), Mehmet Kemiksiz (2004: voice), Ümit Kuzer (2004: sound pad), Erkan Oğur
(2004: fretless
classical guitar
, kopuz lute), Taner Sayacıoğlu (2001, 2004: kanun
zither), Fahrettin Yarkın (2004: bendir
frame drum), Ferruh Yarkın (2004: dayereh
frame drum).
Featured on
Other sites (some errors in biography, derived from translating http://www.kalan.com/scripts/Dergi/Dergi.asp?t=3&yid=3255)
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
group that compose and play contemporary ethnic music, classified as world music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
in the Western world. It is sometimes listed as Grup Yansımalar (formal Turkish prefix for bands).
It was founded in 1990 by Birol Yayla (guitarist, tanbur
Tanbur (Turkish)
The Tambur is a fretted string instrument of Turkey and the former lands of the Ottoman Empire. Like the ney, the armudi kemençe and the kudüm, it constitutes one of the four instruments of the basic quartet of Turkish classical music aka Sanat Musiği...
lutist) and Aziz Şenol Filiz (ney
Ney
The ney is an end-blown flute that figures prominently in Middle Eastern music. In some of these musical traditions, it is the only wind instrument used. It is a very ancient instrument, with depictions of ney players appearing in wall paintings in the Egyptian pyramids and actual neys being found...
flutist). Their 2004 album Pervane ("Moth") was a noted world music album in Europe. They contributed the music for several Turkish movies, and are featured on the soundtrack of the film The Last Ottoman: Yandim Ali (2007).
Overview
In 1980, Birol Yayla and Aziz Şenol Filiz met at the conservatoire. In 1983, they joined the Turkish music chorus. In 1990, they formed Yansımalar: the name is the plural of the Turkish word yansıma (reflection), giving yansımalar (reflections), which as in English means both the reflection of the mirror and the reflection of the mind. Their music, mostly composed by Birol Yayla, is essentially instrumental, though a few pieces feature the sound of voice or breathing.About their music, Mario Levi
Mario Levi
Mario Levi Mario Levi Mario Levi (born 1957 in Istanbul is one of the most important modern novelists of Turkish literature.-Biography:Mario Levi was born in 1957 in Istanbul. He graduated from Saint Michel High School in 1975, from Istanbul University the Faculty of Literature French Language and...
(the Turkish novelist from Izmir) wrote in his introduction to Pervane, "Some songs speak to you without words. Because those songs have a language. A language with its source in your personal history, or in collective memory. Some songs seem to caress you, and some, in the middle of the night, jar you to your depths. It's a bit as if these songs, with the passing of time, write their stories into you. From the first time I listened to the songs of 'Yansımalar', I have always had this feeling, and for me, this story continues in 'Pervane'. [...]".
Yansımalar 2004, Pervane, op. cit.
In 1991 and 1995, the founding pair recorded two albums, released by the newly created record label Kalan Müzik
Kalan Müzik
Kalan Müzik or Kalan Music for the West is a Turkish independent record label company based in Istanbul. It was founded in 1991 by Hasan Saltık. It specializes in releasing Saltık's recordings of classical and traditional ethnic and folk music from Turkey and the surrounding region. It is sometimes...
(1991). In 1996, the band was joined by Engin Gürkey (percussions) and Nezih Yeşilnil (double bass), who appear on the 3rd and following albums. In 2001, four guest musicians participated to the recording of the 4th album, and in 2004, eight guests are featured on the 5th album, including noted fretless guitarist Erkan Oğur
Erkan Ogur
Erkan Oğur , or Erkan Ogur in the West, is a Turkish musician. A pioneer of fretless guitars, he invented the first fretless classical guitar in 1976.Martinelli, op. cit.Unfretted, op. cit. A composer, he has influenced many musicians with his compositions combining the sounds of Turkish folk...
.
They contributed music (along with Baba Zula
Baba Zula
Baba Zula is a Turkish musical group, founded in Istanbul in 1996, featuring founding members Levent Akman and Murat Ertel as well as Coşar Kamçı, who replaced original member Emre Onel in 2005. BaBa Zula added live drawing artist Ceren Oykut into the mix in 2004. She left the band in 2010. Her...
) to the soundtrack for Derviş Zaim
Dervis Zaim
Derviş Zaim is a Turkish Cypriot filmmaker and novelist, who has twice won the Golden Orange for Best Director for Elephants and Grass and Dot ; Golden Oranges for Best Film and Best Screenplay for Somersault in a Coffin ; and the Yunus Nadi literary prize for his debut novel Ares in Wonderland...
's first film, Tabutta Rövaşata (1996). And the music for Altın Kanatlar (2002, TV documentary), Ferhat'la Şirin (2002, movie), Esir Şehrin İnsanları (2003, TV miniseries featuring Oktay Kaynarca
Oktay Kaynarca
Oktay Kaynarca Oktay Kaynarca Oktay Kaynarca (27 January 1965, Malatya Turkish actor, being a TV and movie star in his country. He is better known for his role in the cult TV series Kurtlar Vadisi (Valley of the Wolves).He currently plays in a film called "Adanali". He is one of the main characters...
and Zeynep Tokuş
Zeynep Tokus
Zeynep Tokuş is a Turkish actress and former beauty pageant winner. Recently, she won the title of the TV show Turkish version of Dancing on Ice.-Biography:Tokuş was educated in graphic design at the Bilkent University in Ankara....
). They were regular guests of music shows on BRT
Bayrak
Bayrak Radio Television Corporation , is the official radio and television broadcasting corporation of the self-proclaimed 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus'.-History:...
in 1999-2000 and on TRT
Turkish Radio and Television Corporation
The Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, also known as TRT , is the national public broadcaster of Turkey and was founded in 1964. Around 70% of TRT's funding comes from a tax levied on electricity bills and a sales tax on television and radio receivers...
in 2002-2003.
In 2007, they contributed music to the soundtrack of The Last Ottoman: Yandim Ali (Son Osmanlı: Yandım Ali), a noted Turkish film
Cinema of Turkey
Turkish cinema is an important part of Turkish culture, and has flourished over the years, delivering entertainment to audiences in Turkey, expatriates across Europe, and in rare cases, the USA....
, based on a comic book by Suat Yalaz
Suat Yalaz
Suat Yalaz is a Turkish comic book artist. He created the character Karaoglan. In 2002 he was named Turkish cartoonist of the year. He wrote the comic that was adapted into the film Son Osmanlı Yandım Ali.-External links:*...
. Yansımalar (Birol Yayla) composed the music for 2 tracks, and the band contributed strings to about half of the tracks. The music was produced by Prince Claus Award laureate Hasan Saltık
Hasan Saltik
-External links:* – Saltık's record label* at the Prince Claus Awards...
, founder of the Kalan record label.
Members
Current members- Birol Yayla (founder 1990) – acoustic guitarSteel-string acoustic guitarA steel-string acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound...
(AD Series AriaAria (guitar company)Aria is a Japanese manufacturer of acoustic and electric guitars and basses.- History :Aria was formed in Japan in 1953 by Shiro Arai as Arai and Company. They began retailing acoustic guitars in 1960, although the company didn't actually start manufacturing their own until 1964. Aria arranged for...
), classical guitarClassical guitarThe classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
, Turkish tanburTanbur (Turkish)The Tambur is a fretted string instrument of Turkey and the former lands of the Ottoman Empire. Like the ney, the armudi kemençe and the kudüm, it constitutes one of the four instruments of the basic quartet of Turkish classical music aka Sanat Musiği...
lute, fretless lute, composer - A. Şenol Filiz (founder 1990) – neyNeyThe ney is an end-blown flute that figures prominently in Middle Eastern music. In some of these musical traditions, it is the only wind instrument used. It is a very ancient instrument, with depictions of ney players appearing in wall paintings in the Egyptian pyramids and actual neys being found...
reed flute, bendirBendirThe bendir is a frame drum used as a traditional instrument throughout North Africa. Unlike the tambourine, it has no jingles but most often has a snare stretched across its head, which when the drum is struck with the fingers or palm gives the tone a buzzing quality.The bendir is a frame drum...
frame drum - Engin Gürkey (since 1996) – percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
s (dafDafA daf is a frame drum used as a musical instrument in popular and classical music. The term daf is used in Iran / Kurdistan for a large drum that has a series of four interlinked rings in the frame. Daf is mostly used in Middle East, Iran, Armenia, Pakistan, Turkey, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and ...
tambourine, etc.) - Nezih Yeşilnil (since 1996) – double bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
Guest musicians (albums from 1991 to 2004)
Alphabetically: Suren Asaduryan (2001: duduk
Duduk
The duduk , traditionally known since antiquity as a Ծիրանափող is a traditional woodwind instrument indigenous to Armenia. Variations of it are popular in the Middle East and Central Asia...
double reed flute), Reyent Bölükbaşı (2001: cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
), Pınar Duruk (2004: cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
), Samim Karaca (2001, 2004: oud
Oud
The oud is a pear-shaped stringed instrument commonly used in North African and Middle Eastern music. The modern oud and the European lute both descend from a common ancestor via diverging paths...
lute), Mehmet Kemiksiz (2004: voice), Ümit Kuzer (2004: sound pad), Erkan Oğur
Erkan Ogur
Erkan Oğur , or Erkan Ogur in the West, is a Turkish musician. A pioneer of fretless guitars, he invented the first fretless classical guitar in 1976.Martinelli, op. cit.Unfretted, op. cit. A composer, he has influenced many musicians with his compositions combining the sounds of Turkish folk...
(2004: fretless
Fretless guitar
A fretless guitar is a guitar without frets. It operates in the same manner as most other stringed instruments and traditional guitars, but does not have any frets to act as the lower end point of the vibrating string...
classical guitar
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
, kopuz lute), Taner Sayacıoğlu (2001, 2004: kanun
Kanun (Instrument)
The Qanun is a string instrument found in the 10th century in Farab in Turkestan...
zither), Fahrettin Yarkın (2004: bendir
Bendir
The bendir is a frame drum used as a traditional instrument throughout North Africa. Unlike the tambourine, it has no jingles but most often has a snare stretched across its head, which when the drum is struck with the fingers or palm gives the tone a buzzing quality.The bendir is a frame drum...
frame drum), Ferruh Yarkın (2004: dayereh
Dayereh
A dayereh is a medium-sized frame drum with jingles, used to accompany both popular and classical music in Iran , the Balkans, and many Central Asian countries such as Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan...
frame drum).
Discography
Studio albums- 1991 - Yansımalar (Yansimalar)
- 1995 - Bab-ı Esrar (Bab-i Esrar)
- 2000 - Serzeniş (Serzenis, Serzenish)
- 2001 - Vuslat
- 2004 - Pervane ("Moth")
Featured on
- 2007 - The Last Ottoman: Yandim Ali - soundtrack
External links
Official sites Yansimalar.com - official website- Label discography with MP3 samples at Kalan.com
Other sites (some errors in biography, derived from translating http://www.kalan.com/scripts/Dergi/Dergi.asp?t=3&yid=3255)