PAGE 6 THE RETRIEVER JANUARY 25, 1988 Introducing Ud, Tanbur, Kanun, and Ney... Irish Turkish instruments now playing for UMBC's ethnomusicology program band William Ward Retriever staff writer scores Dr. Karl Signell, Executive Secretary of UMBC's Center for Turkish Music (CTM), carefully removes fragile-looking The Waterboys instruments from a humidity- controlled room. "In the winter, it cut smash album gets extremely dry, and that's not very good for instruments made of Sammy Prestianni wood," he explains. The room, on Retriever staff writer the third floor of the Fine Arts building on campus has a clear glass The Waterboys latest release, door like a walk-in refrigerator. "Fisherman'^ Blues" on Helping him place the delicate Chrysalis is a very pleasant and stringed instruments on tables likable album. It's refreshing to see around the room is Svanibor Pettan, them receive airplay on stations like a doctoral student in UMBC's 98 Rock—I'd say it's a good indication Ethnomusicology Program, the that things are picking up around here program which the CTM falls for good new music. ui.der. The leader and founder of the band, The instruments, worth several Mike Scott, has directed the six year thousand dollars, are part of a old band with many varied members. collection of Turkish classical Said Scott, "I had the intention of instruments recently donated to finding the other Waterboys, whoever UMBC's CTM by the Turkish and wherever they were." I guess he Ministry of Culture in Ankara. found them. This album is quite good Actually, the story is a little more and accessible, for a distinctly complicated than that: different sounding music than what is "The story on the instruments was normally heard on popular radio. that I went to see a sympathetic high They meld traditional Irish melody, official in one of the Turkish instruments and feeling into, the ministries [in Turkey]. He was eleven cuts on the record, which I like. interested in what we were doing, Even my grandmother would enjoy it. and he said, 'Is there anything we The band consists of top players can do to help you?' and I said 'Yeah, Anthony Thistlethwaite, Steve we need some instruments,' and he Wickham and Trevor Hutchinson as picked up the telephone and called the core members. Many sideline up this guy, and this guy was quality musicians areTeatured on the someone in the private sector," individual cuts as well. Signell relates. photo by Chris McGranahan I was struck by the similarities From there, Signell says, Mr. between Mike Scott's voice and old Aytug Iz'at, Deputy Undersecretary Top: Dr. Karl Signell (left) plays a Dylan (with an Irish accent). Dylan of the Turkish Ministry in Ankara, kemenche as Svanibor Pettan strums was a great vocalist in a strange kind helped coordinate the creation of a a tanbur. Opposite: Karl Signell of way in the sixties and early fund from private sources to buy the dislays the kemenche. seventies when he could still really instruments. At Dr. Signell's wail away. Mike Scott's voice has got request, Necdet Yasar, UMBC's which are classical, or traditional a strangely familiar tone to it. It's a representative in Istanbul, was put Ottoman music. The other 3,000 little raspy, yet full of emotion. I don't in charge of the ordering, scores are of Turkish folk music. think he ever raises his voice, never supervision, packing and delivering According to Signell, the collection gets overly excitetl, yet the music is the instruments to UMBC. Yasar, a of scores represents one of the most exciting. It's quite puzzling. virtuoso in Turkish music who comprehensive in the world. Maybe the introduction of fiddles, performed here last February, had "It's a great resource for scholars bouzoukis (kind of Greek guitars), each instrument specially made for all over the world, as well as for bells, flutes, accordians and UMBC's Ethnomusicology performers and music lovers," mandolins keeps the sounds flowing Program. Signell says. Anyone interested in and always interesting. The individual "No respectable Turkish musician studying the scores can either come instruments compliment each other would walk into a store and buy an to UMBC or write the CTM for throughout the album. Each song is instrument," notes Dr. Signell. copies. "We've already had quite a an entity unto itself, though a thread Across the room, Svanibor Pettan is number of requests," he adds. of continuity flows through all of the posing with a tanbur, a long-necked Along with the Distinguished songs. It has a soothing effect, yet it's lute with a curious bowl-shaped Guest Artist, a full graduate very intense and full of emotion. body. fellowship is being offered by the "The Stolen Child" is a musical "Hold that thing straight, please," Turkish Ministry of Education to adaptation of the poem of the same Signell tells him. After Pettan any Turkish citizen who desires to title by William Butler Yeats, the adjusts his position, and the tanbur study Ethnomusicology quintessential Irish voice of poetry. he is holding, Signell nods (specializing in Turkish music) at Tomas McKeown, a well-known approvingly. UMBC. Why send a Turkish student inside. There are no internal heard of Turkish music before, and Gaelic singer, even surfaces as the "There you go! We want you to to the U.S. to study Turkish music? compare them," he says. Pettan has spoken voice in this song. I don't think look like you learned correctly "Methodology," offers Svanibor a particular interest in Turkish supports. Because it is such a they seem to enjoy it very much," delicately made instrument, the Signell adds for encouragement. He that these musical compositions are here," he finishes, laughing. The Pettan. Pettan, a Yugoslavian music because of his own heritage that much different from Yeats' joke is that the Distinguished Guest student who came to the UMBC to and his studies in Yugoslavia. sound is much richer — it resonates puts the last instrument away and much easier," he says. closes the door to the humidity poetry toward the middle of his life. Artist from Turkey, who is to teach a study Ethnomusicology because of There is passion, intelligence, rhythm, course on Turkish folk music, has the different approach, thinks that "In Yugoslavia, I did research chamber. mostly in the southern part of the The exotic sounds of the ud stop, rhyme and meter. Yeats would not arrived yet, so no one has the method used at UMBC is very probably check them out if they were country. The south was under the and Pettan begins to put the fragile This spring, interested students learned how to play some of the practical and gives the student playing at the local pub. I'm sure he Turkish government for instruments back into the can take part in the instruments. exposure to a number of musical climate-controlled room. The would. And I'm sure he'd even like The collection consists of two forms. approximately 500 years, so the Ethnomusicology program, or study Turkish influence is a strong one," biggest of them, the tanbur, seems as Turkish music through UMBC's them. tanburs (long-necked lutes), a "Here, there is the possibility of I'm ashamed to admit this, but I'd he explains. light as a balsa wood airplane. Music Department's course kemenche (a fiddle), an ud (a playing in the Balinese Gamelan, or never heard of them before this week. short-necked lute), a kanun (a offering, Music 307J: Turkish the Indian Ensemble, and learning Seated in a chair, Pettan moves Both Signell and Pettan "Fisherman's Blues" is the band's zither), and four neys (reed flutes). something about American music encourage students to take part in Ensemble. Taught by Dr. Signell, fourth full-length album. You should feel These items add to a number of his fingernails-across the strings of this course will explore Turkish folk also," he says. Pettan also thinks an ud, a short-necked lute. The the Ethnomusicology program, ashamed, too, if you are as uninformed Turkish instruments which were music. Arrangements for alternate that study abroad gives a student a sound fills the small room, as Signell which is world-renowned and has ashamed too, il you are as uninformed donated to UMBC last February by times, and private lessons in classical clear perspective of their own explains the design of another drawn graduate students from as I. They tour constantly in Europe the Ministry of Culture and Tourism culture. around the world. Turkish instruments can be made by and the U.K., but will be doing the instrument, the tanbur. contacting the ethnomusicology in Turkey. In the recent acquisitions, "Sometimes you can understand States in 1989. Look in local papers UMBC also received over 6,000 your own culture better if you learn "The interesting thing about the "We have quite a few program at extension 2026 on for Baltimore performance dates this undergraduate students who never campus. Turkish musical scores, half of another culture and are able to tanbur is that it's completely hollow spring. Grace Pool's double-edged sword musical projects in and around New can also be creatively uninspiring. In *.*&> Mark Behuncik York. sorne places the group is playing Retriever staff writer Bob worked as a drummer with technically well, but there is a certain lack of passion and spontaneity. The JH>^BT g^HK 44/nr\here are hints and many musicians in the area and had suggestions in the music of several album credits, most notably music is too carefully planned out at JL Grace Pool, revealing the new Brian Wilson LP.