“Melodies of the Turkic World from Our Hearts” Concert at Rami Library

Rami Library in Istanbul hosted a special concert titled “Melodies of the Turkic World from Our Hearts.” Featuring a choir composed of students from the Haliç University Conservatory, along with an ensemble of experienced performers, the event offered the audience an unforgettable evening of music.

The concert, under the artistic direction of Prof. Dr. Murat Salim Tokaç and conducted by Lecturer Ehsan Raeisi, took place on Sunday, 3 May, between 19:00 and 20:00 at Hall 120 at Rami Library. The event attracted strong interest from audiences.

The program featured selected works from various regions of the Turkic World. Melodies from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Tatarstan, Karachay, Cyprus, and different regions of Anatolia were performed through both choral and solo interpretations. The repertoire included “Selam ey kutlu vatan,” “Bizim eller ne güzel eller,” “Atımı bağladım nar ağacına,” “Ay gız,” “Ayrılmagız,” “Al yemeni mor yemeni,” “Kamajay,” “Mingitav,” “Türküz Türkü Çağırırız,” “Bir Fırtına Tuttu Bizi,” “Kahveyi Kavururlar,” “Aman Tello,” and the “Anayurt March.”

The choir consisted of Beste Bulut, Buse Akçap, Dilara Karabaş, Eda Öztemur, Esma Çaycı, Gülben Hilal İzci, İdil Yılmaz, Melek Günaydın, Melike Özçakır, Murat Aydın, Nisan Dolu, Sibel Can, Şevval Kuş, and Taha Küçükcivan. Solo performances were delivered by Esma Çaycı, Dilara Karabaş, Sibel Can, Nisan Dolu, İdil Yılmaz, Murat Aydın, Eda Öztemur, and Beste Bulut.

The instrumental ensemble featured Lecturer Tolgahan Üsküdarlı (violin), Lecturer Tolga Volkan Kılıç (qanun), Lecturer Onur Gügercinoğlu (kopuz and dombra), Şehriyar Elahi (tar), Barış Manas, Emirhan Koculu, and Ezgi Güler (bağlama), Erfan Mirzapourshahi (violin and accordion), Ali Taştan and Zeynal Ali Aslan (mey), and Safa Akbulut (percussion).

With strong audience engagement and moments of participation during the performances, the concert brought together the shared cultural heritage of the Turkic World through music. The event stood out as an important cultural and artistic gathering within Rami Library’s ongoing cultural programme.