Melodies and Rhythms
Turkish classical music is highly intellectual and rich in melodies and rhythms, and the content of vocal music is based on beautiful poetry. Originally developed at the Ottoman court and cherished by top composers and musicians, it was primarily enjoyed by urban intellectuals and elites. From the 1960s onward, it found a place in various live music venues, later broadcasted on radio and television, becoming a significant cultural heritage. With nearly 500 makams (modes and melodies) and up to 120/4 rhythm types, the choir aims to perform, preserve, develop, and introduce Turkish Classical Music, an integral part of Turkish culture, to a young and diverse audience in Amsterdam and the Dutch context.
The choir's goal is to perform this Turkish music on an amateur basis, sharing the beauty of this music to connect various groups in society through the universal language of music, transcending cultural and civilizational boundaries. The choir is accessible to everyone, regardless of their background. Two Dutch singers (Barbara Wessel and Angela Attema) are passionate and eager to learn this music. The rest of the choir comes from Anatolia but from various groups, including Kurds, Alevis, Christians, Sufis, atheists, or believers, all united through music. A secondary goal is to build confidence through social activity for participating Turkish women and challenge stereotypes about them. Currently, there are 15 women and 10 men actively participating in the choir.
Diverse Repertoire
The choir builds connections by performing in social contexts, festivals, and neighbourhood events. This allows them to bring residents, passersby, and music enthusiasts together, setting an example throughout the Netherlands. The choir's repertoire is diverse, featuring beautiful compositions in unique makams such as Kürdilihicazkar, Karcığar, Nihavend, Hicaz, Uşşak, Rast, Saba, Hüseyni, Hüzzam, Muhayyerkürdi, and Eviç. Through this music, conductor/oud player Mehmet Polat helps them develop their musical skills, including singing together, maintaining proper pitch, improving internal rhythm, and singing dynamically. Performing these classical pieces skillfully generates much appreciation from both Amsterdam locals hearing it for the first time and those with trained ears.
The primary mission is to undergo a learning process where everyone can cultivate their talents, enabling them to proudly share the end result with an attentive audience during a unique concert at the end of the season. In addition to being a music school, the choir functions as a social platform where everyone feels welcome. Appreciating and enjoying this beautiful music requires some taste and sensitivity, but the relaxed atmosphere coupled with a rich context of melodies, poetry, and the varied instrumental colour of accompanying musicians during concerts makes it accessible to a broad audience. By organizing public events, we aim to raise awareness for everyone, especially Dutch-Turkish individuals in the country.
Musicians
Mehmet Polat - assistant professor
Sukru Kirtis - ney
Sinan Polatoglu - ney
Umit Sav - violin
Qusai Naim - cello
Modar Salama - perküsyon
Ferda Kaynak - perküsyon
Kerem Hikmet – photographer
