The Rhythm of Nature Album Released on Kura Records!
Prepared by TÜMATA (Turkish Music Research and Promotion Group) and released for the first time as part of the 17th Istanbul Biennial, the album "The Rhythm of Nature" has been released by Kura Records.
The album features pieces performed with ancient and natural instruments such as the çeng, Istanbul kemençe, udu drum, and rain stick. Pentatonic music, born from the 6000-year-old roots of Turkish music
The series and modal improvisations present music as a tool for healing, inner balance and spiritual journey.
Following in the footsteps of music therapist Dr. Rahmi Oruç Güvenç, EB Kanikey Güvenç Akçay, Halime
This album, prepared with the contributions of Atalay and Faysal Macit, reminds us of the Turkish musical tradition and brings the inspiration from dreams to today's ears.
“The music we remember in our dreams”
reaches the whole world.
PRESS RELEASE
Tumata
Rhythm of Nature
Prepared by TÜMATA and released for the first time as part of the 17th Istanbul Biennial, the album "The Rhythm of Nature" features improvised pieces performed with ancient, natural instruments such as the Istanbul kemenche, the udu drum, and the rain pipe. Pentatonic scales and modal improvisations, born from the 6,000-year-old roots of Turkish music, present music as a tool for healing, inner balance, and spiritual journey.
STORIES OF THE TRACKS IN THE ALBUM
1. Dance of Birds (Çeng Taksim)
G Major Pentatonic/ G Major Pentatonic//
The çeng is known throughout history as the instrument of lovers. In Divan poetry, it symbolizes the lover, longing for his beloved. It originated in Central Asia and Asia. It is also seen in Anatolia, Mesopotamia, and Egypt. It is considered the ancestor of the harp. It is made of beech and mulberry wood and is stringed. The oldest model has silk strings. It is played by hooking with the fingers. The oldest one dates back to 2600 BC and is associated with the planet Venus.
Throughout history, it has been performed in sacred rituals, therapies, and healing centers, as part of Mevlevi, classical, and palace music, as well as at celebrations and festivals. Its sound, reminiscent of the sound of water, evokes a sense of relief and comfort.
The instrument's headstock resembles a bird's beak, a hallmark of Turkish instruments. Its melodies and ornamentation, like birds ascending to the sky, awaken spiritual feelings, bringing the soul to inner peace. Kanıkey Güvenç Akçay's G major pentatonic çeng performance tells the story of the birds' dance.
2. Lotus (Çeng, Istanbul Kemençe, Udu Drum)
G Major Pentatonic/ G Major Pentatonic//
The lotus flower symbolizes purification, inner peace, purity, innocence, life, abundance, rebirth, unity, and togetherness in one's journey to the inner world. Our work, "Lotus," explores these sentiments with an impromptu performance in G major pentatonic scale. It includes a section from the work "Bülbül Sandugaç," by the Volga Ural Turks.
Pentatonic music is the oldest music of the Turks. Its influence is said to have been felt from Central Asia (Southern Siberia) to China, Japan, India, and the Caspian Sea north and south, and from there to Europe, Africa, and America. Some musicologists call this music "a gift from God."
Pentatonic music has been found to instill a sense of self-confidence and determination, helping one enter a trance state. In a trance state, a person begins to perceive things they cannot perceive through normal consciousness, and it is there that the true nature of being emerges. Trance is a crucial means for the emergence of humanity. Pentatonic music is also a key element in this regard.
3. Nelumbo - (Ceng – Istanbul Kemenche)
Rast Makam & G Major Pentatonic Improvisation/
Rast Maqam & G Major Pentatonic Improvisation/
A performance was performed in the Rast makam and the G major pentatonic scale for Mariah Lookman's film. Rast makam is one of the four primary makams with high therapeutic value. It is effective on the head and eyes, as well as the cold organs of bone, brain, fat, and muscles. It brings joy, inner peace, and relaxation. It is one of the oldest makams. In Persian, it means right, straightforward, truth, and reality. Pentatonic music connects people with nature, fostering a sense of self-confidence and determination.
4. The Soul of Ötüken Forest and Yenisei
A Minor Pentatonic / A Minor Pentatonic//
Ötüken is considered the name of the first place where Turks first appeared on Earth. It is the capital of the Turks and, according to traditional Turkish belief, is at the center of the world.
It was a sacred area, a center for the Hun Turks, Göktürks, and Uyghurs. Its soil, water, and resources were fertile, sheltered by the surrounding rivers and mountains, and its vital energy was high. According to the oldest Turkic belief, Ötüken is the name given to Mother Earth. The Ötüken Forest is considered sacred by the Turkic tribes, and this sacredness is mentioned in the Orkhon inscriptions.
Written sources depict the Ötüken Forest as a haven on earth, a sheltered haven, a safe haven where birds sing and people live joyfully and happily. Today, it lies within the borders of Mongolia and Russia, close to the Orkhon River.
Our composition, "The Spirit of Ötüken Ormanı" (The Spirit of Ötüken Forest), was composed with these sentiments, connecting with our roots. The bird songs at the beginning, combined with the sounds of birds migrating from Sri Lanka to Central Asia and living there for a time, create a sense of unity. The A minor pentatonic scale, the oldest form of Turkish music, is performed in the pentatonic scale.
The Spirit of the Ötüken Forest and Dr. Rahmi Oruç Güvenç's Yenisei Variation are combined. The Yenisei inscriptions hold a significant place in the Turkish language, and the Yenisei River is considered the fifth longest river in the world.
5. Sky Forest (Rain Stick – Çeng – Istanbul Kemenche – Udu Drum - Cymbal)
A Minor Pentatonic /A Minor Pentatonic //
Just as there are forests on Earth, there are forests in the sky, visible and invisible, yet revealing their traces. Clouds inform us of these hidden forests, and stars, forming shapes, whisper inspiration from these mysterious forests into our dreams. In this piece, Halime Atalay imitates the sounds of birds in Sri Lanka with her Istanbul Kemenche. Immerse yourself in the rhythm of the music as you journey to these formations in Sky Forest.
%20kopya.png)
6. Udu Drum
The udu instrument originates from the Igbo people of Nigeria and means "boat." It is a clay vessel made by Igbo women to carry water from the river to their homes. Over time, it was developed by women and became an instrument used for women's ceremonies and rituals. In Iran, it is called the Quzah. It gives bass character to works. The udu has a very bright and wet sound. Its sounds can be similar to the Tombak and Tabla. It evokes a feeling of spaciousness in the listener.
Its clay-like structure allows its voice to connect with many cultures. Faysal Macit's rhythmic solo performance, in 9/8 time, embarks on a journey through the Anatolian Sufi pattern, using the Udu drum. Our composition, "The Spirit of Ötüken Forest," is inspired by these feelings and by connecting with our roots.
It was composed. The bird calls at the beginning were added to the sounds of birds migrating from Sri Lanka to Central Asia and living there for a time, creating a sense of unity. The A Minor Pentatonic scale, the oldest form of Turkish music, was used in the pentatonic scale. The Spirit of the Ötüken Forest was combined with Dr. Rahmi Oruç Güvenç's Yenisei Variation. The Yenisei inscriptions hold a significant place in the Turkish language, and the Yenisei River is considered the fifth longest river in the world.
7. Earth's Awakening (Udu Drum & Çeng)
G Major Pentatonic/ G Major Pentatonic //
As we greet the creatures living in and on the soil with love, we hope that our hearts and our soil will be healed and awakened with the sound of nature, pentatonic music.
8. Pentatonic 9/8 Aksak Usûl - (Udu Drum & Istanbul Kemenche & Çeng)
Rhythm, which is inherent in human existence, appears in Turkish music with its richness of rhythms.
While various rhythms evoke various emotions, the 9/8 Aksak Usul moves the listener. The Aksak Usul is formed by combining the Turkish Aksağı and the Sofia. The 9/8 Aksak Usul is used in Turkish music in dance tunes, songs, folk songs, and köçekçe forms. Based on this, we invite you to dance with our pentatonic and semi-pentatonic performances in 9/8 rhythm.
9. Doula (Istanbul Kemenche Rast makam taksim)
The doula accompanies us on our journey to our roots, preparing us for what is within us with the taksim performed in Rast makam with the Istanbul Kemenche.
The Rast makam is depicted as a fertile makam in Turkish music. Makams such as Uşşak, Hüseyni, Buselik, and Çargâh arise from the Rast makam. The word "kemençe" (keman), of Persian origin, is formed by combining the word "keman" (bow) and the diminutive suffix "-çe" (-çe), meaning a small stringed instrument played with a bow. The word "kemençe" is used today in many countries beyond Turkey, including Iran, Armenia, Greece, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. It has three metal strings and is played by touching a horsehair bow with the fingernail. It has a deep, resonant sound. The Istanbul Kemençe used by Kemençevi Halime Atalay is a four-stringed instrument. This instrument evokes spiritual feelings and gives the listener a sense of flexibility.
10. Amed Nesîm-i Sûbh-u Dem - Rast Nakış Beste - Abdülkâdir Merâgi
Rast Makam//
Born in Maragha, Iran, between 1353 and 1360, Abdülkâdir Merâgî, one of the greatest Turkish composers, composed this composition in Rast makam, in embroidery form, and has survived from the 14th century. His book, Kitab'ül Edvar (Theoretical Music), was written in Turkish and contains in-depth information on makams, instruments, and usuls. Abdülkâdir Merâgî provides important historical insights into the çeng. Therefore, our performance begins with the elegant sound of the çeng.
VIDEO
17th Istanbul Biennial //
TUMATA
Bio//
Founded in 1976 by Dr. Oruç Güvenç, TÜMATA is a group that explores the healing, balance, and integration dimensions of Turkish music. Viewing music as both an artistic and therapeutic tool, the group has pioneered music therapy efforts in various health fields by establishing centers both at home and abroad. Bringing 50 years of experience into the digital age, TÜMATA continues to convey the universal healing power of music to the future.