Music of the Dancing Boys 2
Volume two of this essential and superbly played survey ofmusic from Turkey's Ottoman  Empireis dedicated to the repertoire of köçek dancers,  longhaired boys who performed in women's clothing. For 200 years they were  welcomed at the sultan's court or the homes of powerful patrons, but most were  employed at taverns. The most popular soloists even caused periodic riots, but  theirs' was a short-lived profession. Once their beards grew in, they were  forced to retire and became musicians, prostitutes, or embittered has-beens.  Their surviving accompaniments date from the late 19th century and are sinuous,  juicy, and drop-dead sexy. The most common rhythm is an Anatolian-derived 9/8  known as aksak, which is synonymous with unbridled sensuality. The style is not  closely related to Arabic raks sharki (belly dance) music, but traces of it  still turn up in certain Greek and Jewish klezmer traditions.--Christina  Roden