FROM SUFI TO FLAMENCO
The concert series, which brings together examples of Sufi music from Anatolia with Spanish flamenco
music, was organised by KULSAN, a cultural and arts foundation based in the Netherlands. The group, which
includes the most renowned musicians in their field, was formed by qanun player TAHİR AYDOĞDU from Turkey
and guitarist ERIC VAARZON MOREL from the Netherlands; the music performed was chosen by Tahir AYDOĞDU and
ERIC VAARZON MOREL and thus the programme was created.
At the end of this project, which KULSAN had been working on and directing for a long time, the group met
the audience in the Netherlands and Belgium under the name "From Sufi Music to Flamenco"; they gave
concerts in the Netherlands and Belgium from 21 to 29 March 1999 and also had a radio programme on Radio
Amsterdam. Later the group gave concerts at METU/Ankara on 23 April 2000 and at CRR/Istanbul on 25 April
2000. The album "From SUFI to FLAMENCO" was released by KALAN Music in 2000, consisting of concert
recordings from concerts in the Netherlands and Belgium. Later, the group gave concerts both in Turkey,
including Antalya, Ankara and Istanbul, and abroad, including concerts in the Netherlands and Belgium in
October 2004.
The last concert of the group was held at the 44th "International Bursa Festival" on 3.7.2005 and received
great admiration and appreciation. The group made its last tour in NETHERLANDS and BELGIUM between 1 and
19 March 2009 with the organisation of KULSAN. Engin KÖKÇÜ with his Semâ dance and KİKA with its Flamenco
dances also add visuality to the music. Rites, hymns and sema's describing the development and impact of
Sufi music in Anatolia from the 11th and 12th centuries are presented both alternately and intertwined
with examples of Mediterranean music in Spain from the same years. The main purpose of this project is to
express and emphasise that people of different religions are brothers and can live in peace, based on the
motto of Mevlana.
Artists of the group:
- Tahir AYDOĞDU- Qanun, Vocals (Artistic Director)
- Bilal DEMİRYÜREK - Soloist
- Bilgin CANAZ - Ney, Vocals
- Fahrettin YARKIN - Percussion (Frame Drum, Tambourine, Hand Drum)
- Engin KÖKÇÜ - Whirling Dervish
- Adrian ELISSEN - Guitar
- Carlos DENIA - Soloist
- Antal STEIXNER - Percussion (Udu, Cajon)
- KİKA - Flamenco dancer
The group's album "YENİ UFUKLAR" was released by KALAN MÜZİK in 2008. Since 2004, ADRİAN ELİSSEN on guitar, CARLOS DENİA as soloist, FAHRETTİN YARKIN on percussion, BİLGİN CANAZ on ney and KİKA on flamenco dance have joined the group. The works included in the album entitled "NEW HORIZONS", which was created from the concert recordings made between 10th and 17th October 2004, and the musicians and dancers of this group were created under the direction of Tahir AYDOĞDU (qanun) and Adrian ELISSEN (guitar) and provided an interesting meeting of these two types of music; the combination of music and visuality was achieved with whirling dervishes and dances performed by a whirling dervish and a flamenco dancer.