Chryssanthi: I'm confused now. I understand that "chiftitelli" refers to a dance, and is also used for a particular rhythm, but I'm wondering if its the same rhythm that is called chiftitelli on music CDs and in the U.S. or (wada kabhir in arabic? -- the two-toned one played with many taqsim) -- this rhythm isn't 6/8. I've only seen it notated by Middle Eastern musicians as 8/4 -- it has a very strong 8 beat structure.
the dancer in this clip is using music with what we call the chiftitelli rhythm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4UUM5zY3Bw
Sedonia
Quote:
Originally Posted by chryssanthi sahar
Dear Samsied.
Let's clear the misunderstandings: There are two things called "Chifteteli": One is the Turkish and Greek belly dance (whereas second is actually called "Tsifteteli", because we don't have the sound "ch" in Greek, except in some dialects), the other is the 6/8 Arabian rhythm Taksim, which some times is called also Chifteteli. Probably because it is used a lot for the Turkish Chifteteli, but in lot quicker version than for the Arabian Taksim parts of a musical routine.
The Turkish Chifteteli usually has the 6/8 rhythm Chifteteli and/or 4/4 rhythms, mostly Maqsoum. The Greek Chifteteli has in most cases 4/4 rhythms also mostly Maqsoum and in rare cases the 6/8 Chifteteli rhythm (which in this case is played slow, like in the Arabian music). The word Chifteteli is Turkish and means "two strings". We Greeks have the Turkish name, because, as you read in my article , Chifteteli was brought to modern Greece through the expatriate Greeks of Smyrna.
As about the songs you are talking about : the first is indeed a Greek Tsifteteli with a very quick 4/4 Maqsoum rhythm. The second is a Turkish Chifteteli with also a 4/4 rhythm (Maria sorry, this song is definitely Turkish and not Greek  ) and the third song is obviously a fusion with an Arabian 6/8 Chifteteli or Taksim rhythm. I hope you are less confused about the subject now
Happy dancing |