The story we’re going to tell is a true fairytale. The story of the traditional 17th century Istanbul cymbals, produced according to a secret formula.

There are in Istanbul certain truths that remain fairytales yet real. Among them are things not repeated to everyone, secrets known only to select people. Our fairytale is one of those. A true fairytale that began 376 years ago.

GURU OF CYMBAL-MAKING: ZİLCİYAN
When the pounding of the hammers ceased, the Great Master of Cymbal-making, Zilciyan Usta, prepared his fire and his secret alloy of the future. At the first light of dawn on its journey into the foundry flames, the secret alloy beaten by countless hammer blows, was transformed into a book of mysteries that contained within it Istanbul’s thousand sounds.