FALL 2007

Sept. 15, 1207 in Rumi’s Anatolia
A musical glimpse into the life and times of a great Sufi poet

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The year 2007 marks the 800th anniversary of the birth of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, one of the most influential figures of Muslim mysticism (Sufism). This concert explores the rich mix of creeds and cultures of 13th century Anatolia where Rumi spent most of his life through a wide range of repertoires: Turkish sufi music (Bektasi and Mevlevi), Byzantine (Greek-Orthodox) music, Jewish poetry with Turkish melodies, Turkish secular music, and music of the “Frenk”—European Crusaders and traders passing through the region.

In recognition of the coincidence of the beginning of both Rosh Hashanah and Ramadan on September 12th (the last time for 33 years) the concert will also follow the distinct Turkish tradition of chanting part of the Mevlid-i Serif on important occasions. A masterpiece of Turkish literature, written in 1409, the Mevlid is a long poem commemorating the birth of the Prophet Mohammed.

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“Arabesk”, for forty years the dominant popular music style in Turkey, has continued to absorb into it many strands of the Turkish musical tradition, combining it with contemporary social themes and commercial appeal in a way which still creates controversy.

Turkish classical and folk music in its most infectious form in an intimate setting with food and drink where audience interaction is expected.

SPRING 2007

A Musical Program in Memory of Hrant Dink

Prominent Boston area musicians of Armenian and Turkish descent celebrate their shared traditions

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The traditional symbols of the Tulip and the Sword in Ottoman poetry embody the inner and the outer, the refined and the coarse, the private and the public. The symbols suggest the tension between the personal and the social domains and between domestic life and war. Each set of the program features a particular repertoire and setting in Turkish life, with a distinctive pacing, dynamic level, instrumentation and emotional quality, drawing the listener into a full spectrum of traditional Turkish music: secular, sacred, city, village, classical, folk, orthodox and heterodox. This concert features a large ensemble of more than 25 performers,including members of the Mavi Dance company.

With the Dünya ince Saz Ensemble
The New England Drum and Winds Mehterhane
and Mavi Dance

This event is a part of THE BOSTON JAZZ WEEKSpecial guest: Tiger Okoshi

Free, direct, honest, clear

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The concert program will take the audiences on a unique musical journey which will feature the jazz compositions of Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol with influences from John Coltrane to the music of the Ottoman Janissary Bands.

New England Mehterhane vs. Connecticut Valley Field Music

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Ottoman Janissary Bands had a significant musical impact on Western music for many centuries. The first European marching bands combined several different size drums, brass percussion and winds, in direct imitation of the Ottoman Janissary Bands. The traditional American fife and drum band is an example of a Turkish Mehterhane influence in the New World in the 18th and 19th century. Having an American fife and drum band, as the “opponent” in this “battle” brings different generations of marching bands onto the same stage in a competition which mirrors the centuries of competition between Ottoman and European civilizations.

INTERFAITH PROGRAMS

This project is an ongoing series of interactive programs of music and conversation which aims to foster awareness, deepen dialogue, and celebrate commonalities among the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths. The inspiration for these programs is the life and work of Ali Ufki, born Wojceich Bobowski, a Polish convert to Islam, a musician and respected member of the Ottoman court, and the translator of the Bible into Turkish, who lived in the cosmopolitan environment of seventeenth century Istanbul.

SPONSORS
ITG
Seven Hills Restaurant
Gentle Movers
Picasso Travel