Music of Ottoman-Turkish Women Composers

500 year old Ottoman music tradition owes a lot to the contribution of women composers, performers and teachers of Turkish music. Oldest documentations and illustrations which have survived until now of women performing music are from the 16th century. Studying musical activities of Ottoman women help us both understand the Ottoman tradition and the place of women in the music of modern Turkish society.

We will be performing works of numerous influential women composers dating from 17th century to present, some of which are Dilhayat Kalfa, Leyla Saz, Kevser Hanim, Mehves Hanim, Esma Sultan, Reftar Kalfa, Gevheri Osmanoglu, Neveser Kokdes…

Ceren Turkmenoglu – violin, rebab, bendir, voice
Volkan Efe – oud, ney, kemence, voice
Michael K. Harrist – bass, yayli tanbur, bendir, voice
Tev Stevig – guitars, tanbur, oud

13 January 2018 7.30 pm
MIT Chapel
48 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139