Armenian musicians to join relief efforts for Van earthquake survivors

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey’s well-known ethnic music ensemble Kardeş Türküler is joining in relief efforts for earthquake survivors in the eastern province of Van with a concert in New York City in November.

The group, joined by famous percussionist/composer Arto Tunçboyacıyan and Armenian oud master Ara Dinkjian, will take to the stage on November 13 at the Merkin Concert Hall in New York’s Kaufman Center. All proceeds from the concert will be donated to relief campaigns aimed at Van quake survivors, Today’s Zaman reported citing Anatolia news agency.

The concert is organized by the Moon and Stars Project, a cultural enterprise under the auspices of the New York-based American Turkish Society.

Made up of vocalists Feryal Akkaya, Fehmiye Çelik and Vedat Yıldırım, Ayhan Akkaya on bass, Tevfik Çekiç on violin, Barış Güney on bağlama, Selda Öztürk and Burcu Yankın on percussion and Saro Usta on accordion, Kardeş Türküler will be accompanied by Tunçboyacıyan in percussion and vocals and Dinkjian on oud and cümbüş during the concert.

Kardeş Türküler released its most recent album this spring on the Kalan Music label. A 16-song collection recorded under the musical direction of Tunçboyacıyan, “Çocuk (H)aklı” (The Kid is Right/The Kid’s Mind) features original songs in Armenian, Turkish, Arabic, Kurmanji and Laz. Tunçboyacıyan, dubbed “Mr. Avant-garde Folk” in music circles, is also credited as songwriter for several of the songs on the new album.