New Music in Turkish-Arabic Mediterranean region

Despite often declaring themselves “independent”, music “scenes” are always intricately integrated into local, regional and transnational production and reception criteria, lifestyles and aesthetic communications models. The impact of global digitization is omnipresent and constantly necessitates a redefinition of terms such as “identity”, “genre”, “tradition” and “migration”.

In a two-part symposium, the spotlight is primarily focused on practising musicians, performers, label founders, instrumentalists and composers from Beirut, Berlin, Cairo, Istanbul, London and Paris. Commented and accompanied by music journalist Thomas Burkhalter (Zurich) and ethnomusicologist Martin Greve (Istanbul) with a series of short presentations and a panel discussion, the question of practice, definition and the characteristics of “new sounds” in the mediterranean region is explored.

11:00 – 13:30
Presentations

11:00 – 11:30
Thomas Burkhalter, Zurich
„This Music is Westernized“ – Absurd Allegations about Musicians from Beirut

11:30 – 12:00
Martin Greve, Istanbul
New Music in Turkey, Traditional Music, New Traditional Music and New Music with Traditional Elements

12:00 – 12:30
Ulrich Mertin, Istanbul
Pioneer work in Istanbul – The Genesis of the Hezarfen Ensemble

12:30 – 13:00
Mahmoud Refat, Cairo
100Copies Music Production in Cairo

13:00 – 13:30
Raed Yassin, Beirut
Based On A True Story

15:00 – 16:30
Panel Discussion
New Sounds from the Turkish-Arabic Mediterranean region
With Seth Ayyaz / Thomas Burkhalter / Martin Greve / Alper Maral / Samir Odeh-Tamimi / Sharif Sehnaoui
Oliver Schneller, moderation

With Seth Ayyaz / Thomas Burkhalter / Martin Greve / Alper Maral / Ulrich Mertin / Samir Odeh-Tamimi / Mahmoud Refat / Sharif Sehnaoui / Raed Yassin

Oliver Schneller, concept / moderation