Golden Horn Releases Letter from Istanbul

Golden Horn is very pleased to announce the release of Letter From Istanbul, a brand new recording from the two brightest young stars of the world music scene, Turkish kemence player Derya Turkan, and Greek kemence and lavta player Sokratis Sinopoulos.

This soulful recording is two sets of hands lifted in prayer, friendship, and joy across the Aegean waters, calling across the traditions of the past, with its sadness and its great beauty, into a dawn of hope and respect from these young stars of traditional Anatolian music.

Transcending the limits of language, music has long been the universal medium of peace and understanding. The traditional Anatolian tunes on Letter From Istanbul are common and recognizable to Greeks and Turks alike; the passion of the music is recognizable to the souls of all of us.

Derya Turkan began his formal studies at the age of 11 with master kemence player Ihsan Ozgen. Since then, his enormous talent and sincere dedication to Turkish music has led him to gain fame world-wide, performing at concerts from Japan to Tunisia, and from Harvard Univerity to the Sorbonne. His various recordings include the 1998 Golden Horn release Ahenk, with tanbur player Murat Aydemir.

Sokratis Sinopoulos also began his love affair with music from an early age, studying with kemence masters Ihsan Ozgen and Ross Daly. He has performed with Daly’s Labyrinth Ensemble, as well as taking part in a variety of other concerts and recordings. His diverse repertoire spans many genres, from Turkish and Byzantine classical music to western jazz, and he has also composed scores for both theatrical and modern dance performances.

Letter From Istanbul was recorded in November 1999 in Istanbul. The beautiful recording joins the kemence and lavta sounds of this talented duo with an ensemble of other musicians on instruments including the violoncello, kanun, daire, and bendir.