Uskudar (or Katibim) Turkish/Ottoman song performed by Paul Butler on oud, fiddle, shawm, percussion

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Description

Uskudar is a song that has variants all over the region of the former Ottoman Empire. There are versions in Turkey called “Uskudar” (or “Katibim”), in the Arab world as “Ghazali Ghazali” (gazelle), in Greece as “Apo Xeno Topo” (“from a foreign place”), Serbia as “Ruse Kose Curo Imas” (the Red-Haired Girl) and many others. Exactly where and when the melody originated is disputed, and there even is a quite entertaining documentary about the origin of the piece (“Whose is this song” directed by Adela Peeva). I tend to use the title Uskudar (which is a place in Turkey) because that is how I originally encountered the piece, but since I don’t use any lyrics it could be any of these versions. Given the diverse origin possibilities, I’m just labeling it as “from the Ottoman Empire” as the tune originated somewhere in that region, and sometime during the 17th century most likely.

The piece is performed on instruments that are from or are similar to ones found in that region. These include the Arabic/Turkish oud (the plucked string instrument), the shawm (the reed woodwind, this is a renaissance European version of the zurna/mizmar though there is very little difference), the vielle (the bowed string instrument, which is a medieval European instrument subbing in for the Eastern Mediterranean kemenche/lyra, or Arabic rabab, but has a very similar tonal quality), and various percussion (appearing in the video are the dumbek and tambourine, missing is the bass djembe that is in the music). All of the instruments are performed by me.

Music recorded and mastered at Silvertone Studios by Alfred Goodrich. Filming done with the thankful assistance of my wife Stephanie Budin. Filmed at the beautiful Sayen House and Gardens in Hamilton Square, NJ.