Resonances of the Oud in Turkish Music

Presented as part of the Kenan Center’s Poetry & Music Series and in dialogue with the Harvard University Department of Music, this program approaches the Turkish oud and its musical tradition as a living, evolving cultural form. It draws on the rich resources of the Loeb Music Library, home to one of the world’s most extensive collections of Turkish music.

Central to the program is Bilen Işıktaş, a visiting scholar in Harvard’s Department of Music and a renowned oud virtuoso. The concert brings together a selection of works from the Turkish oud repertoire, shaped by improvised taksim, a highly expressive form of Turkish classical music. The evening concludes with Istanbul Meşk Ensemble performances for oud, ney, and voice, offering curated compositions from the classical Turkish repertoire.

Voice: Arzu Eylül Yalçınkaya (Founder, Kenan Center)
Ney & Kemençe: Mithat Yavuzarslan

Free and open to all.