The Istanbul Bach
BACH IN ISTANBUL - THE OBOE IN THE SERAIL
1709: The Ottoman Empire was giving protection to King Charles XII when he had to flee from his Russian enemies. Together with the king came also an oboe player, Johann Jacob Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach’s younger brother. Records show that Bach has performed concerts for the Sultan and Ottoman intellectuals. There are also references that the oboe entered into the Muzika-i Humayun (the ensemble of the Ottoman Empire Palace "Saray") in the 18. Century along with the other Western instruments we use in the program. We invite you to join us on our journey through the old Istanbul on the eve of the Tulip period during which the Ottoman Empire lived an intellectual Renaissance inspired by foreign trends. The music of Bach’s environment is meeting the sounds of the Imperial palace, the Janissary Band, the lodges of the Whirling Dervishes and also the music of Istanbuls baroque expat community. Works from the Ali Ufkî collection, Tanburi Mustafa Çavus, Zurnazen Ibrahim Ağa, Johann Sebastian Bach, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Giuseppe Toderini and others.
‘Almost a fairy tale’ (Thurgauer Zeitung)
‘A vivid, extraordinary sound’ (Saarbrücker Zeitung’
10 musicians (Turkish Singer, Oboe, Violin, Viola da Gamba, Thiorba/Baroque Guitar, Tanbur, Kanun, Rebab, Percussion).