Turkish Music Festival at Asia Society Texas Center

Fifth Turkish Music Festival: 'Sounds of Anatolia'

Asia Society Texas, American Turkish Association-Houston, and Hoppa Project present Sounds of Anatolia, from the fifth annual Turkish Music Festival, a multi-day musical event dedicated to sharing a wide range of Eastern European music styles to audiences in Houston. In this vibrant evening, Kinetic Ensemble, composer Erberk Eryılmaz, virtuoso clarinetist Ismail Lumanovski, and trombonist Dilan Selek İlhan explore the diverse sound colors within Anatolian music.

The music of Eryılmaz, which dramatically captures the spirit and energy of traditional Anatolian music, will be prominently featured throughout the night, with his Bolulu Ama Rasim (Blind Rasim of Bolu) making a dynamic start to the evening. The program also includes traditional folk dances for davul and clarinet performed by Lumanovski, and arrangements of beloved twentieth-century Turkish tangos for piano, strings, and voice, re-composed by Berfin Deniz Çarıkcıoğlu.

The second half opens with a U.S. premiere of the third movement of String Quartet No. 1 by Ekrem Zeki Ün. Composed in 1934, Ün's string quartet blends the microtonal, makam-inspired structures of Anatolian traditional Turkish music with Western musical forms and instrumentation, a style prevalent during the early to mid-20th century. The program concludes with Eryılmaz' Sınırsız (Limitless) for Turkish wind, strings, and piano: a piece that highlights the virtuosity and versatility of Lumanovski.

About the Artists
Kinetic Ensemble is a 16-member, conductorless string ensemble formed in 2015 hailed for its “remarkably varied and rich strata of string colour” (Choir & Organ), its “visually arresting…brilliantly executed” performances, and its “thoughtful, incisive programming” (Arts+Culture Texas). Dubbed “Houston’s Indie, Conductorless Orchestra” (Houston Public Media) and “Best Chamber Orchestra of 2023” (Houston Press), the artist-led, artist-curated Kinetic Ensemble has gained increasing recognition as an innovative and dynamic force in Houston’s music scene, and an important advocate for the diversification of classical music repertoire. With a commitment to amplifying diverse, under-performed, and newly composed classical music, Kinetic has premiered over twenty new works by emerging and established composers of our time, including Karim Al-Zand, Patrick Harlin, Daniel Knaggs, Paul Novak, Nicky Sohn, Daniel Temkin, and more. Kinetic’s self-titled album, featuring four premiere recordings, was released in 2023 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Traditional Classical charts.

Erberk  Eryılmaz Headshot
Erberk Eryılmaz is a Turkish-American composer and performer recognized for bringing the energy of the folk music of his homeland to the concert stage with a creative and dramatic approach. His recent album of chamber works, Dances of the Yogurt Maker won a GRAMMY Award with producer Judith Sherman and received two gold medals at Global Music Awards in 2022. His compositions have been performed at some of the world’s most important concert venues such as Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, the National Museum of Fine Arts in Havana, Cuba, and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. As a composer, pianist, conductor, and folk percussionist, he has collaborated with many important ensembles including the Presidential Symphony Orchestra of Turkey, Houston Symphony, European Union Chamber Orchestra, Apollo Chamber Players, as well as the Bowen McCauley Dance Company.

Ismail Lumanovski Headshot
Ismail Lumanovski is an extraordinary Macedonian clarinetist and musical force of passion and dynamic virtuosity. Already of international distinction, Lumanovski has launched a major career as a soloist, chamber musician in both classical and cross-over repertoire. His synergistic blend of natural talent and training combines the spirit of folk music with the discipline of classical music. He is proud to have participated in the New York debut of the Carter Clarinet Concerto with musicians from New Juilliard Ensemble and the Lucerne Festival Academy with Maestro Pierre Boulez. The New York Times wrote of his work under Boulez: “the soloist — the brilliant, fearless young clarinetist Ismail Lumanovski — aligned himself with various instrumental contingents of the large ensemble”. Lumanovski’s playing may be heard on his recordings with the New York Gypsy All-Stars, Secret Trio, Fall of the Moon, Liquid Clarinets and Love is the Way.

Dilan Ilhan Headshot
Dilan Selek Ilhan is an accomplished trombone player with a rich and diverse musical background. She has been an integral part of the music scene in Istanbul, Turkey, performing with prestigious orchestras such as the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet Orchestra, where she served as the principal trombone player for over a decade. Dilan is also the founder and a member of several musical ensembles including the Istanbul Brass Trio and Brassolist. In addition to her orchestral work, Dilan has been an active participant in the Houston music community since moving there in 2018. She currently serves as the orchestra manager of Houston Repertoire Ballet while also continuing her passion for chamber music and solo performances. Furthermore, she has a deep appreciation for Turkish ethnic pop music and has founded the Nova band Texas, which specializes in arrangements of Turkish songs. Dilan's dedication to music and her versatile musical talents have made her a respected figure in both the classical and ethnic music scenes

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