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Turkish musicologists Ali Fuat Aydin and Cenk Güray continue their successful collaboration with this tribute to Ottoman composer Tanburi Cemil Bey, who took inspiration from the rich musical environment surrounding him, comprised of Anatolian folk songs and the musical traditions of the Armenian, Greek and Jewish communities. The duo invited some of the most prestigious Turkish soloists to converse with their bağlama (long-necked Turkish lute). Said guests include master accordionist Muammer Ketencoğlu, a specialist of Aegean and Balkan music; Murat Salim Tokaç on tanbur (lute); and Derya Türkan on kemençe (bowed lute).

Güray has recently published important research on Turkish music theory and religious music repertoire, while Aydin is also a keen researcher, concentrating on zeybek, the 9/8 dance of West Anatolia. It is in fact the zeybek rhythm in different variations that dominates the album, from the solemn ‘Cerit Osman Zeybeği’ to the short, classic ‘Mistirio Zeibekiko’. The charming ‘Aptalikos’ gives a sample of many of the riches of this CD, from the introductory taksim to the wistful, danceable melody. The detailed booklet in English discusses in depth the personality of the composer and each composition: sometimes there's not enough evidence to decide whether a song is a folk tune that inspired Tanburi Cemil Bey, or if it was his creation that then entered the popular repertoire. This goes to show the organic connections between Cemil Bey and his musical legacy.