Huseyni Rondo
for Horn and optional Percussion
(daf or dumbeg [alternatively 12-16" frame drum or any type
of hand drum with multiple pitches])
"Huseyni Rondo" blends a common component of Middle Eastern musical
structure (Huseyni makam) with a common component of European musical
structure (5 part rondo).
Many Middle Eastern songs will begin with a slow improvisatory solo
called a taksim. The beginning of "Huseyni Rondo" is intended to
emulate this, but if the performer prefers, they are free to improvise
their own taksim rather than play the written notes and rhythms. The
rhythmic pattern used throughout this is the "curcuna", which is
3+2+2+3/8. It is common throughout Turkey and Armenia, and it was
particularly common in the areas of Western Armenia
(present-day Turkey) where my great grandparents were born.
The "quarter-tone" fingerings are notated in the horn part, though they
are not technically true quarter tones: the D half-flates should be
about 11 cents flat of D natural (just enough to be noticeable) and the
G half-flats should be about 23 cents flat of G natural (obviously
flat, but not "dramatically out of tune"). For additional information
on other possible microtonal fingerings, I
have a free quarter-tone fingering chart available to view and download here.