“Liturgical Songs of Istanbul”

21 April 2018

“Liturgical Songs of Istanbul”

Kudsi ERGUNER, ney

Serkan Mesut HALİLİ, kanun

Hasan KİRİŞ, tanbur

Mehmet BİTMEZ, ud

Fahrettin Şükrü YARKIN, percussion

Bora UYMAZ, vocal

İlhan YAZICI, vocal

Mehmet Hamdi DEMİRCİOĞLU, vocal

Safa KORKMAZ, vocal

Burak SAVAŞ, vocal

Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, Singapore

With a long history of invasions and conquests by Greek colonists, the crusaders and Osmanlı conquerors, the city we now know as Istanbul has witnessed the rise and fall of many empires, all of which have added to the cultural diversity that it is known for today. Once the capital of the Byzantine Empire and the prime centre of Christianity alongside Rome, it was also the capital of the Ottoman Empire, during which the Greeks, Persians, Arabs, Armenians, Jews and Turks co-existed and contributed to the richness of the city. Consequently, the songs of the Hebrew Maftirim (Jewish mystic music), Sufi ceremonial music and Eastern Orthodox hymns became part of the musical fabric of the people.

In tribute to the multi-faith history of Istanbul, the Kudsi Erguner Ensemble presents a repertoire of traditional sacred music from the various communities in the ancient city.