Constantinople

Constantinople is a group from Embrun, active since 2014, that specialises in music of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It is directed by Kiya Tabassian and focuses on bringing together study of historical manuscripts with living oral traditions from the Near and Middle East, especially the classical Persian tradition.

Instruments and approach

The ensemble works with a mix of early European and Middle Eastern instruments. Its European instrumentarium includes the lute, vihuela, medieval harp, viola da gamba, vielle, recorder, cornetto and shawm. It also uses the setar, tombak, daf, dayereh and oud, drawing on Persian and wider Middle Eastern musical traditions.