Thread: Talk to me about Longa Farafaza (or Longas)

I became intrigued with a beautiful piece of music called Longa Farafaza on the House of Tarab album. I have been wondering if this is a folkloric piece. It sounds vaguely Turkish to me. Are there particular dance style that go with a longa? Anyone know anything about it?

There's a little at Maqam World: Arabic Musical Forms

Some about the maqam Farah Faza here: Minor & Related Maqamaat

Geek-level details about longas at this site: http://www.adamgood.com/turkish_nota...ort=makam_name

Sheet music here: Ferahfezâ Longa - Mutlu Torun

Shems' site also showed up in the search, but I'll let her post her own content.

Originally Posted by Nepenthe

I became intrigued with a beautiful piece of music called Longa Farafaza on the House of Tarab album. I have been wondering if this is a folkloric piece. It sounds vaguely Turkish to me. Are there particular dance style that go with a longa? Anyone know anything about it?

Longa is a form of Turkish music, typically faster dance pieces, often in 2/4 and 6/8 rhythms. I don' think it is folkloric, though.

when i was taught 2/4 on zills by the elder rathor, it was refered to as "longa a turkish 2/4"and 4/4 was "balady an arabic 4/4 " .in armenian music, longa means it will be a certain type of barr, ..dance...longa is usually a 1,2, kick with a grapevine..like the hora etc.

Originally Posted by zamora

when i was taught 2/4 on zills by the elder rathor, it was refered to as "longa a turkish 2/4"and 4/4 was "balady an arabic 4/4 " .in armenian music, longa means it will be a certain type of barr, ..dance...longa is usually a 1,2, kick with a grapevine..like the hora etc.

looked at my music files
other well known longas:
lorke lorke
shanaz ( sehnaz ) longa is one of my favs.but when dancing to shanaz, you can not cue to end your section in the middle of it...it is one of those songs the band HAS to go thru all the changes....to finish!

Originally Posted by zamora

shanaz ( sehnaz ) longa is one of my favs.but when dancing to shanaz, you can not cue to end your section in the middle of it...it is one of those songs the band HAS to go thru all the changes....to finish!

That's one of my favorites too.

You want a crazy version, try the Chinese group "12 Girls Band" -- they released the song as "Freedom" on traditional Chinese instruments. Ultimate fusion. I love it.