"Ay Ishiginda (Ay işığında : Under the moonlight)" Performed on Kamancheh by Imamyar Hasanov

Ay Ishiginda
Composed by Qember Huseynli
Kamancheh: Imamyar Hasanov
Original Lyrics : Zeynal Xelil
Imamyar Hasanov is an internationally acclaimed virtuoso on kamancha and for his versatility as a arranger, bridging the vast divide between his traditional scales and those of other cultures. Having impressive credentials, he leads the field with his experience and vision to catapult Azeri music onto the world stage.

As an artist of impeccable character, Mr. Hasanov is a uniquely gifted musician with numerous achievements in fostering the vitality and public appreciation of Azeri traditional music. With his extensive knowledge of both Azeri traditional and Western classical music, knowledge of many of the world's traditional instruments, and innovative arranging technique, Mr. Hasanov has not only contributed to the preservation of Azeri traditional music, but has created a body of work which has brought this music to the forefront of both the classical and world music fields.

Imamyar Hasanov was born in Baku, Azerbaijan. He started playing the kamancha at the age of 7 and eventually became the youngest soloist in Azerbaijan's National Music Instruments Orchestra. He has a Master's Degree in Art and Music from the Azerbaijan State Conservatory named after Uzeyir Hajibeyov.

Imamyar is a dynamic virtuoso who performs Azerbaijani and Middle Eastern traditional improvisations as well as European classics for the first time as a kamancha soloist. He organized the first tar, kamancha, and piano instrumental trio in Azerbaijan named ''Gala" which took first place in competition "Seeking Talents" in Azerbaijan in 1996.Imamyar Hasanov is the winner of various national and classical music competitions in Azerbaijan and has participated in several music festivals all over the world.

Highlights of his work included "Undiscovered Treasure Kamancha of Azerbaijan" George Town university (2005), "Nowruz Project" San Francisco World Music Festival (2005), "Silk Road Bayram" Indiana University (2005), "Best Kept Secret of World Music" George Washington University (2007), "Here Comes The Sea, Followed By The Ocean" San Francisco World Music Festival (2007), " The Reeds Give Way To The Wind " San Francisco World Music Festival (2008), " Nowruz Festival " Istanbul (2010), "Passage to Dawn" North America and Europe Tore (2010), "Great Lake" Folk Festival (2010), "Richmond Folk Festival" (2011), "The Epic Project" San Francisco World Music Festival (2011), "Race: Are We So Different?" Science Museum of Virginia (2012), "Loopino Festival" Luxembourg Philharmonie (2012)

The kamancha tarhu uses a violin string-set for 4 string models, and viola string set for 5 string models. Tuning is either fifths (identical to violin) or a mixture of fourths and fifths. As with other tarhus, the kamancha tarhu will still work effectively with the strings tuned down a long way from their intended violin tuning. Most common 4 string tuning is (highest to lowest) c,g,c,g, (or d,a,d,a) and most common 5 string tuning c,g,c,g,c (or d,a,d,a,d) .
(From Peter Biffin's site http://www.spikefiddle.com/peterframe.htm)