 |
|
| Passion
Improvisations
Yurdal
Tokcan: Oud
Ouds used by Yurdal Tokcan in this recording were
built by master Faruk Turunz
Studio: OMAY Productions, Istanbul
Graphic Design: Siir Özbilge - imge.net
 
|
YURDAL TOKCAN
Oud
Yurdal Tokcan is considered one of the finest oud players
in the world today by many music authorities. His style combines older traditions
with many new stylistic innovations, which are also present in his playing of
the fretless guitar. His many new compositions combine traditional rich melodies
with polyphonic textures performed on Turkish classical instruments.
Tokcan was born in Ordu on the Black Sea cost of Turkey in 1966. He is a 1998
graduate of Istanbul Technical University’s Turkish Music Government Conservatory.
While completing his masters program there, he joined the faculty as an oud
instructor. Tokcan continues to teach, sharing his knowledge, experience, and
technique with Turkish and foreign students.
In 1990, he joined the Culture and Tourism Ministry’s Istanbul Government
Music Ensemble under the artistic direction of Tanburi Necdet Yasar. As a member
of this ensemble, Yurdal performed in France, Holland, Belgium, and Spain. He
is a member of the Istanbul Fasil Ensemble and the Istanbul Tasavvuf Music Ensemble,
and a founding member of the Istanbul Sazendeleri (Musicians of Istanbul), a
group dedicated to presenting Turkish instrumental works. Tokcan has participated
in many recording sessions and has performed internationally, in Germany, France,
Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Greece, Japan, Turkmenistan, Israel, Tunisia, Lebanon,
Bosnia, and Northern Cyprus.
As a soloist, Tokcan performed in the Netherlands with the Amsterdam Percussion
Group and Chamber Orchestra in a program titled European Music Around Oud, and
with the Tekfen Philharmonic Orchestra in Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Belgium.
Tokcan joined Burhan Ocal (percussion), Goksel Baktagir (kanun), Selim Guler
(kemence), and Arif Erdebil (ney) in a French concert, the recording of which
won the 1998 “Best Ethnic Album” in France. Tokcan has played in
many of ney virtuoso Kudsi Erguner’s ensembles, both in Turkey and abroad.
He performed in Israel with Group Baharat and with long time collaborator, kanun
player Goksel Baktagir. Recently, Tokcan has been recording and performing with
Israeli Ladino artist Hadass Pal Yarden. His work can also be heard on “Bende
Can” (Inner Soul), an album of his original compositions.
Tokcan represented Turkey in several international festivals and celebrations,
including the 3rd International Oud and Lavta Festival in Dresden, Germany and
the 2002 International Oud Meeting in Thessaloniki, Greece (along with oud players
Ara Dinkjian, Simon Shaheen, Haig Yazdjian, and Omar Bashir). In 2003, he performed
at the Oud Festival in Jordan, gave two concerts at the Arabic Music Festival
at the Cairo Opera Hall, and performed during celebrations of the 2003 Turkish
Year in Japan. Tokcan was invited to perform in Kudus in a pan-Mediterranean
music festival (along with Selim Guler, Ross Daly, Zohar Fresko and Yinon Muallem).
He has performed with the Mercan Dede Ensemble in various festivals, including
the Akbank International Jazz Festival in Istanbul.
Tokcan’s recent activities include continued participation in Turkish
Year in Japan during 2004 with Tekfen Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition, Istanbul
Sazendeleri (Musicians of Istanbul) has played in Crete (August 2005), Estonia
(October 2005), Tokyo, Japan (Turkish year events closing concert, May 2004),
and concert with Ross Daly in Bursa, Turkey (November 2005). Tokcan also performed
a duo concert at the International Oud Festival in Jerusalem (December 2005)
with Israeli percussionist Yinon Muallem.
|
