Echoes of Crimea

Kara Deniz (“Black Sea”)

The term Kara Deniz, meaning “Black Sea,” lies at the heart of the history of the Crimean Tatar people. As the cradle of an ancient and vibrant culture, this sea has for centuries embodied a crossroads of exchange between Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Anatolia. The Crimean Peninsula, situated at the confluence of these worlds, stands as a living reflection of this rich heritage.

Deeply attached to their homeland, the Crimean Tatar communities were deported in 1944 on Stalin’s orders to Central Asia, in a tragic exile. This collective trauma remained an open wound until their gradual return to Crimea began in the late 1980s. Heirs to a rich cultural blend, these communities continue to proudly preserve the traditions of their ancestors—especially through music.

This program unveils the soul of Crimean Tatar musical tradition through emblematic pieces such as the moving Agyr Ava (with its asymmetrical 9-beat rhythm) and the lively Haytarma (in 7 beats), subtly infused with jazz. Their melodies, rich in ornamentation and Eastern inflections, offer a space for virtuoso improvisation and reflect the vitality of this living heritage.

Enver Izmaylov – guitar
Sergiu Popa – accordion
Saddam Novruzbayov – clarinet, zurna (oboe)
Noémy Braun – cello
Ayder Ashyrov – drums
Ersoj Kasimov – percussion

Concert organized by the Ateliers d’Ethnomusicologie (ADEM) and AMR, as part of the Vendredis de l’Ethno series.