Kayhan Kalhor and Erdal Erzincan
East Meets East: An Evening of Kurdish and Alevi Music
EVENT NOTES
Doors for this event will open at 6:30 PM. This event is approximately 90 minutes long.
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This February, renown Iranian Kurdish musician Kayhan Kalhor returns to Town Hall for a performance of instrumental improvisation that nods to tradition while pushing its boundaries.
Kalhor, who plays a four-stringed Persian spiked fiddle (or bowed lute) called the kamancheh, is known for collaborations that allow him to explore beyond his comfort zone. In this special Oculus Series event, he is joined by Turkish Alevi folk musician Erdal Erzincan, who plays the bağlama (a stringed instrument in the oud family).
Both exquisite players inspired by the classical and folk traditions of the Middle East, Kalhor and Erzincan first partnered on the entirely improvised album, The Wind (2006), and have continued their musical for two decades. This live performance of two musical masters promises beautiful melodies and improvisations on traditional themes with virtuosic storytelling, creating a trance-like atmosphere that brings the rich courtly history of their respective instruments to life.
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Kayhan Kalhor is an internationally acclaimed virtuoso on the kamancheh (spiked fiddle), who, through his many musical collaborations, has been instrumental in popularizing Persian music around the world and is a creative force in today’s music scene. His performances of traditional Persian music and multiple collaborations have attracted audiences around the globe. He has studied the music of Iran’s many regions, in particular those of Khorason and Kordestan, and has toured the world as a soloist with various ensembles and orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic and the Orchestre National de Lyon. Kayhan is an original member of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project for whom he continues to compose and tour. His most recent albums include Silent City, a collaboration with Brooklyn Rider and I Will Not Stand Alone with santoor player Ali Bahrami Fard. Kayhan has been nominated for three Grammys and was awarded a Grammy with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble (2017).
Erdal Erzincan is a Turkish Alevi folk musician, composer, and singer. In 1981, he moved to Istanbul and studied bağlama at the Arif Sağ music school in 1985. Since 1989, he has been studying music at Istanbul Technical University. He has contributed to the development of the şelpe technique for playing bağlama without a plectrum, akin to guitar tapping. During his career, he has worked with Turkish folk musicians Tolga Sağ, İsmail Özden, Yılmaz Çelik, Muharrem Temiz, Arif Sağ, and Erol Parlak.
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The Oculus Series is made possible with generous support from William Donnelly and our Season Sponsors.