Playing an 1894 ud by renown luthier Manol (Manolis Venios), restoredby Cengis Sarıkuş. Save up your nickels, kids - bidding starts at $30,000! (Photo: Sinan Erdemsel.)
Back in the saddle after that long month of upper respiro-purgatory - still remnant, but at this point it's probably irritation from bad air; coal and wood fires, diesel smoke from ferries and buses caught in the fog - a traditional Istanbul winter. But I've set up three appointments for making new recordings next week, and had the energy to play again with my weekly ayin group, and to meet with Necati hoca for a lâvta lesson, so things are picking right back up.
Friday I went on a little luthiery safari, that is, my friend Sinan and I visited the shops of a bunch of instrument makers. The focus was on ud-s, but we started off at the Cümbüş shop where I got to hang out with brothers Fethi and Ali Cümbüş - we hadn't seen each other since 2005 when I was doing research for my master's thesis on the instrument their great grandfather invented. They're very warm people and it was a nice reunion.
We then visited the the workshops of Ali Nişadır, Alaattin Civelik, and Cengiz Sarıkuş. Many beautiful instruments, my goodness, and in every price range - from very reasonable $700 beauties to restored historic pieces in the tens of thousands. For instrument junkies like myself it is a bit pornographic - in fact I must admit to feeling a twinge of guilt in regard to my relationship with "my luthier," Mustafa Copçuoğlu, "seeing other luthiers" like this, but the world is wide, isn't it, and I haven't even mentioned Feridun Obul, Ramazan Calay or Faruk Türünz. A boy can dream.
And that's the latest from my little world... I hope all's well in yours, too. Back soon, inşallah.
Friday I went on a little luthiery safari, that is, my friend Sinan and I visited the shops of a bunch of instrument makers. The focus was on ud-s, but we started off at the Cümbüş shop where I got to hang out with brothers Fethi and Ali Cümbüş - we hadn't seen each other since 2005 when I was doing research for my master's thesis on the instrument their great grandfather invented. They're very warm people and it was a nice reunion.
We then visited the the workshops of Ali Nişadır, Alaattin Civelik, and Cengiz Sarıkuş. Many beautiful instruments, my goodness, and in every price range - from very reasonable $700 beauties to restored historic pieces in the tens of thousands. For instrument junkies like myself it is a bit pornographic - in fact I must admit to feeling a twinge of guilt in regard to my relationship with "my luthier," Mustafa Copçuoğlu, "seeing other luthiers" like this, but the world is wide, isn't it, and I haven't even mentioned Feridun Obul, Ramazan Calay or Faruk Türünz. A boy can dream.
And that's the latest from my little world... I hope all's well in yours, too. Back soon, inşallah.
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