Studying in Europe
Donald Macleod explores what impact studying in Europe had on the Turkish Five.
Donald Macleod explores what impact studying in Europe had on the Turkish Five.
In 1923 the Turkish Republic came into being. On the agenda for the founding father and first president, Mustafa Kemal Atat葪rk, was the aim to develop a new Turkish musical language, and to disassociate culturally with the Ottoman past. This new musical culture would be a blend of traditional Turkish music, in combination with Western classical music. The Republic funded musicians to study in Europe, who were then expected to return to Turkey and develop what they had learned. Through this cultural exchange, Western music began to be experienced more widely by audiences across Turkey, whilst Turkish music was also introduced to listeners around the world, including Europe and the USA.
A group of composers known as the Turkish Five were pioneers in this movement to form a synthesis between East and West. They included Cemal Re艧it Rey (1904-1985), Ulvi Cemal Erkin (1906-1972), Hasan Ferit Alnar (1906-1978), Ahmet Adnan Saygun (1907-1991) and Necil K芒zim Akses (1908-1999). The Turkish Five became hugely influential in their home country as composers, teachers, conductors and artistic directors, and also became well known abroad, receiving many honours.
Four members of the Turkish Five competed for, and were awarded state funded scholarships to study in Europe. The eldest of the group, Cemal Re艧it Rey, had already moved to Europe prior to the formation of the Turkish Republic. Western teachers who influenced the Turkish Five included Gabriel Faur茅, Joseph Marx, Nadia Boulanger, Alois H谩ba, and Vincent d鈥橧ndy. Prof. Mine Do臒antan-Dack. Dr. Emri Araci joins Donald Macleod to discuss the impact these studies in Europe had on the Turkish Five, and the development of their music.
Hasan Ferit Alnar
艦u Yama莽ta (8 Piano Pieces)
Beyza Yazgan, piano
Cemal Re艧it Rey
Nomad Zeybek Air (Turkish Scenes)
Budapest Symphony Orchestra
Hikmet 艦im艧ek, conductor
Necil K芒zim Akses
Five Turkish Piano Pieces (excerpt)
Burak 脟ebi, piano
Ahmet Adnan Saygun
Theme and Variations, Op 2
Kathryn Woodard, piano
Ahmet Adnan Saygun
String Quartet No 1, Op 27 (excerpt)
Quatuor Danel
Ulvi Cemal Erkin
Piano Concerto (excerpt)
G眉lsin Onay, piano
Bilkent Symphony Orchestra
Jos茅 Serebrier, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock
On radio
Broadcast
- Tue 25 Feb 2025 16:00大象传媒 Radio 3
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