| The infinite varieties of WORLD MUSIC |
Turkish
Music, Anyone?
|
multi-instrumentalist and composer
Burhan Öçal
set out to bridge musical cultures on his first US tour with the Istanbul Oriental Ensemble. The group performed selections from their latest CD which showcases authentic Gypsy music of the Ottoman Empire (8 p.m Friday, 9 March 2001 at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, copresented by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County).
Öçal, one of the greatest darbouka (finger drum) musicians alive today, joined by five other performers on ud (lute), qanun (zither), clarinet and violin played his instruments with amazing virtuosity and wit. In addition, he lent his expressive voice to the singing of ancient Sufi devotionals and Turkish classical chants.
It promised to be a most interesting evening and it turned out to be that and more, the artists cheered wildly by an audience that was visibly thrilled by a most enjoyable virtuoso performance. And clearly, the Turkish musicmakers accomplished what they set out to do.
Photo courtesy of the Philharmonic Society (PSOC).
