Peregrina

SEMA, born in Ankara, grew up in a rich musical culture in which the in-fluences of three continents had come together over a period of 2000 years to form a unique blend at the peak of the Ottoman Empire. Her early child-hood was accompanied by thousand-year-old folk songs. Dancing tunes from the Black Sea fisherman, wedding songs from the Anatolian farmers. Moving epic poems of war, exile and heroism and songs born of the upheaval and political troubles of the post Atatürk era of this century. The deep spirituality of the Dervish songs of the Middle Ages, full of Islamic mysticism, contrast with th cultural songs of the 18th and 19th centuries.
However, the more the initial simple pleasure and sensual seduction of the rythms and melodies led to a broader understanding of the complex structures, the more critically Sema listened to their current interpretation. Conventional chlich's, misunderstood traditional concepts deprived of their original meaning and taboos steeped in narrow moral values had developed into a hollow style. The original lively impulses of the music were barely to be recognized behind the folklore. It had to be possible to restore the relevance of these songs, preserve their roots and communicate them in such a way as to convey once more the feeling of another time and another existence.
In order to find the necessary freedom, as both a woman and an artist, to break away from the expectations of a traditional male dominated society, Sema first had to look beyond her own culture for creative inspiration and challenges. She studied singing and acting in Germany, sang with Turkish musicians living throughout Western Europe, worked with Jazz musicians and performed works ranging from Brecht to classical opera. It was in the Berlin music scene that she finally came upon the style which matched her expectations. In Dieter Moritz Sema found someone who could translate her ideas into reality. Together with him she formed the group Taksim in 1989.

The name TAKSIM has two meanings. Firstly, it is the name of an old part of the town and a well-loved meeting point in the Turkish Metropole of Istanbul. This fascinating city on the Bosphorus is the subject of many songs by Sema & Taksim.
Secondly, Taksim is a type of free instrumental improvisation which blends the style and mood of classical Turkish music with that of a song. In its similarity to Jazz in both content and structure, this style prooves to be a productive method of integrating different musical cultures. At the same time it represents an artistic and human principle: the playful exploration, the cautious approach which familiarises us with the unknown. The free-form introductions, vocal and instrumental improvisations and harmonies added to the original single voice melodies thus become a common theme linking different epochs, cultures and subjects.

zu SIHIR - ZAUBER

"Der erste Titel "Camlica" zeigt, wo"s langgeht. Frisch und lebendig, poetisch und optimistisch kommt die Musik der Gruppe Sema & Taksim daher." Saarbrücker Zeitung

"Ein wahrgewordener Traum ist das Debutalbum der türkisch-deutschen Formation Sema & Taksim. ... Das Produkt der Arbeit des Quartetts mit SŠngerin Sema ist eine fantastische CD voller Wendungen und stilistischer Wechsel zwischen türkischen Melodien, typischen, vertrauten Poplinien und Jazzarrangements. Die Sängerin hat viel Charisma, erinnert partiell an Maria Farantouri. ... Sema & Taksim - ein gelungener Versuch weltmusikalischer Symbiose." musikblatt

"Dieses Quartett unterstützt die Sängerin Sema flexibel und nach Kräften bei ihrem Versuch, dem türkischen Lied einen Weg in die Zukunft zu weisen. Prädikat: mutig."Stereoplay

Orientalische Musik hat auf dem Markt wenig Chancen. Sema könnte das ändern, den die in der Türkei geborene Sängerin verbindet auf ihrer Platte "Sihir - Zauber" traditionelle und neuere türkische Lyrik mit westlicher Jazzmusik, gespielt von ihrer Band Taksim ...
Herforder Kreisblatt

zu HOMMAGE AN ISTANBUL

"Ein Album, bei dem man die Augen schließt und die Lauscher auf Reisen schickt." Der neuer Tag

"In einem geradezu kammermusikalischen Ambiente eröffnet die in Ankara geborene Sängerin ihre Liebeserklärung an die Stadt am Bosporus. ... Ein interessaner Ausflug durch die Musikkultur einer jahrhundertealten Metropole." Cybermedia

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