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Genres and Forms of Crimean Tatar Classical Music

Genres and forms of Crimean Tatar classical music constitute a coherent compositional and metro-rhythmic system of traditional instrumental and vocal music of the Orient, encompassing such forms as Pesrev, Taksim, Fasil, Saz semaisi, and the metro-rhythmic system of Usuls.

Overview

The classical instrumental and vocal-instrumental music of the Crimean Khanate relies on complex compositional schemes, a developed maqam (modal) system, and ostinato metro-rhythmic formulas. The principal genre forms perform clearly defined functions within large vocal-instrumental cycles.

Key Details / Subtopics

  • Pesrev (peshraf, pishrev):
  • One of the main instrumental genres; the instrumental part of the large cycle "Fasil", performed at the very beginning.
  • Structure: a rondo-like form consisting of episodic sections (hane, usually from 2 to 6, most often 4) and a refrain (teslim or mülazime).
  • The first hane establishes the main mode (exposition), the following hane carry out modal and tonal deviations (development), while the teslim returns the melody to the initial mode.
  • Karabatak pesrevs: pieces following the "question—answer" formula (the instrumental solo batak is contrasted with the ensemble beraber).
  • The names of pesrevs reflect modes, geography (Isfahan, Shiraz, Iraq), imagery (Rast, Gülistan), or historical events (the siege of Belgrade in 1595).
  • Taksim:
  • An improvisational form in free rhythm (ad libitum) for solo instruments accompanied by a sustained tone.
  • Serves as a prelude or interlude between the sections of the Fasil cycle. In religious music, vocal taksims also exist.
  • Fasil:
  • A large cyclic form of traditional Turkic vocal-instrumental music.
  • Saz semaisi:
  • An instrumental form with 4 hane and a teslim.
  • Difference from the pesrev: the first 3 hane and the teslim are accompanied by the usul aksak semai, while the 4th hane is free in metro-rhythmic and tempo terms (accompanied by the usuls semai, yürük semai, devr-i hindi, etc.).
  • Usul (usul):
  • Ostinato metro-rhythmic formulas on percussion instruments.
  • Simple: meters of 2/8, 2/4, 3/8, 3/4.
  • Compound: the sum of several simple ones (e.g., 5/4, 7/8).
  • Large: over 15 beats (e.g., 20/4). Cycle names: hafif (light), sakil (heavy), etc.