IMPROVISATION over the Love Theme from “Ergenekon” [Piano Solo]
An ancient Turkish legend: Ergenekon is a cantata composed by Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol for Children’s Chorus, chamber ensemble and soloists. Excerpts from the cantata can be found here. (The Love Theme is at 6:55)
The many layers of communal memory in this program proceed through Greek Orthodox music, secular Greek music, Crusader songs, music of the Ottoman ceremonial and military ensembles, Ottoman court music, Sufi ceremonial music, Turkish folk music, Sephardic Jewish songs, urban music of the Armenians and Turks, and finally contemporary urban popular music full of longing and protest. On its own, each piece may communicate celebration, love, devotion or military might, but taken together, the mood of melancholy is unmistakable, which by now has been permanently woven into the fabric of this thriving cosmopolitan city.