Ceget is an artist from Karachay-Cherkessia in the Russian Caucasus region. The sounds produced on this short but pleasantly recorded album come from the Sïbïzƣï, a flute native to the region. The composer’s style for these tracks take on elements of ambient and experimental music, but are not harsh listening at all. It’s a comforting album, in fact, and I look forward to listening to the rest of his catalog of releases. From Ceget’s Bandcamp site:
Sïbïzƣï (Sybyzghy) is a traditional flute of the Tawlu (Karachay-Balkar) people, the ethnic group I belong to. Traditional sïbïzƣï music often features melodies played on the flute itself, accompanied by ejiw—a type of vocal bass somewhat similar to choral singing, characteristic of North Caucasian folk music in general. This album is my experimental take on that format. It includes three traditional Tawlu melodies; the rest are my own compositions.2. Sïbïzƣï – A melody without a title, recorded in 1927 by composer Rogal-Levitsky in Narsana (Kislovodsk). The piece was performed by Golalanï Nanï. This melody performed by the Tawlu folk group Gollu can be heard here:
youtu.be/Zf26Z-1Vz20?si=GFHFNsdaYWcbAUsd3. Aymuꞩ – A traditional melody dedicated to Aymuꞩ, a pagan deity and protector of domestic animals among the Tawlu people.
14. Tepena – A sïbïzƣï version of this song:
youtu.be/IRLIXiKCSJo?si=y04WCprZZ9_cPjEK
Tepena is a traditional round dance.I would also like to express my gratitude to Toturqullanï Aznawur, founder of the Gollu group, who helped me learn to play the sïbïzƣï and taught me the traditional melodies featured in this album.
The photo on the album cover was taken by me near Damhurtz, Karachay-Cherkessia.
