For centuries, the shores of the Golden Horn have served as a crucible of cultural exchange.
In this special, one-off concert commissioned by JW3, we will bring to life the classical (and often overlooked) musical legacy of Jewish composers — such as Boncukçu, Avram Karakaş, Tanburi İsak, İsak Varon, Karakin Efendi, İbrahim Efendi (Mısırlı), and Haham Nesim Silviya — who flourished within the Ottoman Empire from the 16th to the 19th centuries.
While often overlooked in modern histories, these masters were central architects of the Ottoman makam system, weaving Jewish liturgical sensibilities into the refined classical aesthetics of the Imperial court. Through traditional instrumentation and faithful ornamentation, this programme celebrates a vanished era where faith and art coexisted in a singular, harmonious voice.
The Ensemble
The repertoire is brought to life by a quintet of celebrated specialists in the Ottoman tradition:
Baha Yetkin: Oud & Vocals
Jacob Olley: Ney
Serdar Y'lmaz: Kanun
Muammer Sa'lam: Percussion