Concert of Turkish Classical and Folk Music at Holy Cross

WORCESTER, Mass. – Cambridge Mûsiki Cemiyeti will present a concert of Turkish classical and folk music at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 29 in the Holy Cross Brooks Concert Hall. The concert is free and open to the public.

The concert will include compositions from two distinct families of Turkish music. The first family is composed of instrumental and vocal pieces associated with Ottoman court and urban life from the 14th century to the present. The second family, originating in towns and villages, is made up of lively compositions often depicting scenes from rural life. Turkish music is built upon highly developed systems of makam (melodic mode) and usûl (rhythmic mode), which provide a solid framework for composition and taksim (improvisation). Turkish folk music has a less elaborate melodic structure and simpler rhythmic modes than the classical music. While the lyrics of the classical pieces are derived from the poetry of the Ottoman Divan tradition, those of the folk music belong to the Anatolian aþýk (minstrel) tradition. These two families of music, however, share the common central theme of love, both divine and romantic.

Directed by Feridun Özgören, Cambridge Mûsiki Cemiyeti is a choral and instrumental ensemble dedicated to studying and performing Turkish classical, mystical, and folk music. Since its founding in 1996, the group has played at universities, museums, and other venues in the New England area – including the Worcester Art Museum, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston University, Northeastern University, and the New England Conservatory of Music.

This event is sponsored by MECCA (Muslim Endeavor to Create Cultural Awareness) with support from Student Life.