Dear Colleagues, Friends, and Students,
Please join us for the final concert of the Bennington Middle Eastern Ensemble this Sunday, May 25 at 4:00 PM in Greenwall Auditorium. The students have done incredible work this semester and have prepared an exciting program of traditional and popular songs from all over the Middle East. The theme of our program is gurbet, a Turkish word that refers to the state of being a stranger or longing for one’s homeland. Many of our songs are highlighting the immigrant experience and the emotional states that accompany lives in transition. From stirring ballads to driving dance tunes, we’ll explore other forms of longing—love, nostalgia, desire, betrayal, and more. Don’t miss it!
- Joe
Sunfest is just a day a way! Come hear the Middle Eastern Ensemble rock out to “Gani El Asmar” by the Saudi singer Etab tomorrow at 1:30pm in the Student Center!
Super proud of my first ever santouri student @ansar.paul for all he accomplished in our tutorial this semester. Here he is playing a Greek island tune we’ve been working on.
The Bennington Anatolian Rock Ensemble rehearsing another classic from 1976, “İkimiz Bir Fidanız” by Kamuran Akkor. Listen for the synthy goodness later in the clip!
The Bennington Anatolian Rock Ensemble rehearsing Nur Yoldaş’s megahit from 1981 “Sultan-ı Yegah”! #anadolurock #nuryoldaş #turkishmusic #turkishrock #psychedelicrock #synth
So stoked to share a couple videos of students in my course Anatolian Rock Ensemble: Psychedelia and Social Change. We’ve only had a couple rehearsals and they’re already making such great progress! Video 1: Yaylalar (Selda Bağcan), Video 2: Çayeli’nden Öteye (Neşe Karaböcek’s version).
