Using traditional Turkish instruments, Fazıl Say’s Istanbul Symphony, in which he composed different states of Istanbul with seven hills, offers the listener a unique portrait of Istanbul.
Composed for a large orchestra and Turkish instruments between 2008-2009 upon the commission of Konzerthaus Dortmund and WDR, Istanbul Symphony consists of seven movements, referring to Istanbul with seven hills.
In this work, where Turkish instruments such as ney, kudüm and kanun are used extensively, each instrument touches Istanbul, feels Istanbul and makes Istanbul live, like the color of each movement.
The first performance of Istanbul Symphony was performed on March 13, 2010, in Dortmund, by the WDR Köln Orchestra conducted by Howard Griffiths. In this concert, Burcu Karadağ (Ney Flute), Aykut Köselerli (Turkish Percussions) and Hakan Güngör (Kanun) took part as soloists. (Duration 45’)
I Nostalji · Nostalgia
II Tarikat · Religious Order
III Sultan Ahmet Camii · Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque)
IV Hoş Giyimli Genç Kızlar Adalar Vapurunda · Merrily clad young ladies aboard the ferry to the Princes’ Islands
V Haydarpaşa Garı’ndan Anadolu’ya Gidenler Üzerine · About the travellers to Anatolia departing from the Haydar Pasha train station
VI Alem Gecesi · Oriental Night
VII Final
World Premiere
March 13, 2010
Dortmund (D) Konzerthaus
Howard Griffiths, Conductor
Burcu Karadağ, Ney Flute
Aykut Köselerli, Turkish Percussion
Hakan Güngör, Kanun