Stranbêj singing next to the nishangeh (small shrine) of Qoba Felek, the traditional gathering place of the stranbêj at Lalish, the sacred valley of Yezidis, during the week-long Autumn Festival, in 2011.

Stranbêj singing next to the nishangeh (small shrine) of Qoba Felek, the traditional gathering place of the stranbêj at Lalish, the sacred valley of Yezidis, during the week-long Autumn Festival, in 2011.

Stranbêj Suleiman of Telezer singing next to the nishangeh (small shrine) of Qoba Felek, the traditional gathering place of the stranbêj at Lalish, the sacred valley of Yezidis, during the week-long Autumn Festival, in 2013.

Stranbêj Suleiman of Telezer singing next to the nishangeh (small shrine) of Qoba Felek, the traditional gathering place of the stranbêj at Lalish, the sacred valley of Yezidis, during the week-long Autumn Festival, in 2013.

Stranbêj Suleiman of Telezer singing next to the nishangeh (small shrine) of Qoba Felek, the traditional gathering place of the stranbêj at Lalish, the sacred valley of Yezidis, during the week-long Autumn Festival, in 2013.

Stranbêj Suleiman of Telezer singing next to the nishangeh (small shrine) of Qoba Felek, the traditional gathering place of the stranbêj at Lalish, the sacred valley of Yezidis, during the week-long Autumn Festival, in 2013.

Stranbêj singing next to Qoba Felek (shrine of Felek), the traditional place of singers in Lalish, during the Autumn Assembly in 2002.

Stranbêj singing next to Qoba Felek (shrine of Felek), the traditional place of singers in Lalish, during the Autumn Assembly in 2002 (continuation of the recording above; recorded on analog tape, tape had to be turned).

During the Autumn Assembly in Lalish (October 2002) a stranbêj was invited to the Guesthouse of the Sanctuary, to perform for the guests (tribal and religious leaders) staying the night in the two huge halls of the Guesthouse. Later, at the request of the researcher, the stranbêj also ascended to the room on the upper floor, where the female members of the Princely Family were staying and played there for the women.

During the Autumn Assembly in Lalish (October 2002), the Stranbêj Berces Khalaf and Maer (?) Abdul came to the "house" of the pîr lineage of Alu Bakr and gave an impromptu concert there.

During the Autumn Assembly in Lalish (October 2002), the Stranbêj Berces Khalaf and Maer (?) Abdul came to the "house" of the pîr lineage of Alu Bakr and gave an impromptu concert there (continuation of the recording above; recorded on analog tape, a second tape was used).

At a wake Sheikha Kamo starts singing the Song of Gazelle recalling an 1837 attack on Sinjar and the kidnapping of a Yezidi woman, Gazelle. (Previously she was singing laments about the ISIS attack on Sinjar and talking about Yezidi history and the fermans against Yezidis.) She stops because of the noise.

At a wake Sheikha Kamo sings the Song of Gazelle, recalling an 1837 attack on Sinjar and the kidnapping of a Yezidi woman, Gazelle.

At a wake Sheikha Kamo sings the Song of Gazelle, recalling an 1837 attack on Sinjar and the kidnapping of a Yezidi woman, Gazelle.

Sheikha Kamo explains the historical background and relevance of the song.

Sheikha Kamo sings the song of Gazelle in the house of a friend (so it can be recorded without background noise).

Sheikha Kamo sings the Song of Gazelle in the house of a friend (so it can be recorded without background noise).

Kharibo or traditional song of grief sung by the elderly "Grandmother of Erivan" (Kharibo is related to laments, but can be sung on any occasion, not just at wakes and memorial events).

Kharibo or traditional song of grief sung by the elderly "Grandmother of Erivan" (Kharibo is related to laments, but can be sung on any occasion, not just at wakes and memorial events).

Kharibo or traditional song of grief sung by the elderly "Grandmother of Erivan" (Kharibo is related to laments, but can be sung on any occasion, not just at wakes and memorial events).

The "Grandmother of Erivan" sings the wedding songs of her youth, which used to be sung by women when the bride was brought to her new home, accompanied by the dûl (drum) and zurna (wind instrument). The memory was brought back by her relatives' account of a post-wedding ritual they had just visited.

The "Grandmother of Erivan" sings the wedding songs of her youth, which used to be sung by women when the bride was brought to her new home, accompanied by the dûl (drum) and zurna (wind instrument). The memory was brought back by her relatives' account of a post-wedding ritual they had just visited.

The "Grandmother of Erivan" sings the wedding songs of her youth, which used to be sung by women when the bride was brought to her new home, accompanied by the dûl (drum) and zurna (wind instrument). The memory was brought back by her relatives' account of a post-wedding ritual they had just visited.

The "Grandmother of Erivan" sings the wedding songs of her youth, which used to be sung by women when the bride was brought to her new home, accompanied by the dûl (drum) and zurna (wind instrument). The memory was brought back by her relatives' account of a post-wedding ritual they had just visited.

The "Grandmother of Erivan" sings the wedding songs of her youth, which used to be sung by women when the bride was brought to her new home, accompanied by the dûl (drum) and zurna (wind instrument). The memory was brought back by her relatives' account of a post-wedding ritual they had just visited.