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New Kamran Ince work last night, in istanbul to be Premiered by Opus 21 at Symphony Space

May. 01, 2006

Kamran InceKamran Ince’s last night, in istanbul sees its world premiere at Symphony Space in New York on May 20 at the hands of the up-and-coming chamber music ensemble Opus 21, recipient of the 2005-06 First Prize for Adventurous Programming awarded by Chamber Music America & ASCAP. Ince dedicates the work to Opus 21. Featuring both standard Western and Turkish instruments, Ince presents a musical portrait of Istanbul. He comments:

In last night, in istanbul, I continue the story of my purely “Turkish world,” started and continued with such works Turquoise and Strange Stone. I feel this is not a simple, merely ethnic experience (Turkish “world”), but one that is a result of today’s modern and global existence. It is a world soaked and breathing in today’s multiplicity and all encompassing nature. I am not trying to use concrete Turkish tunes, rhythms, maqams (scales) etc. per se—I am not on any kind of mission. This is I, allowing myself to express in the most pure and uninhibited way what to me is the essence of walking down the old and new Istanbul streets in 2006. For me this experience is one that has paid its dues to history and to the modern world.

Instruments are used to their extremes. There is much use of heterophony and what I call selective heterophony. Quarter tone inflections are not notated, but achieved through various strengths of ½ tone doublings.

To learn more about Kamran Ince and his music, please visit www.schott-music.com. To learn more about the Opus 21 performance of last night, in istanbul, please visit www.symphonyspace.org/ and www.opus21.org.

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