The London Academy of Ottoman Court Music

Mavi Boncuk |

The London Academy of Ottoman Court Music was founded by Dr. Emre Aracı in the autumn of 1998 after a series of specialised concerts based on European music from the Ottoman court in the 19th century; i.e. music composed by and for Ottoman sultans in European genres like marches, waltzes, polkas and polka-mazurkas. As the term "Ottoman court music" immediately brings to mind the monophonic tradition and as the group does not perform any traditional Turkish music employing traditional instruments and that all its members are British, the name of the ensemble might at the first instance be misleading. However its repertoire clearly shows that European music was also very much part of the Ottoman elite culture in the 19th century, enjoyed by the sultans and their families, and therefore it can too be legitimately regarded as court music. The ensemble aims to make public aware of the existence of this neglected repertoire and through future concerts hopes to discover and include new works in similar genres. Two concerts which took place at the Turkish Ambassador's residency in London and recent concerts on the Isle of Man in April and at the Izmir International Festival in June 1999 were received with great enthusiasm. The group also gave a special concert at St James's Church, Piccadilly in aid of the Turkish Earthquake Fund and made a studio recording which will be released in Turkey by Kalan record company in June 2000.

Recently the academy performed in Sarajevo. Furthermore, June 2000 saw the publication of a cd titled "Osmanlı Sarayından Avrupa Müziği / European music at the Ottoman court".
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Players for the Academy String Orchestra
In alphabetical order: Nick Allen (cello),Emre Aracı (arranger/conductor), Natalie Box (violin),Antonia Fuchs (violin), Christopher Koh (violin), Timothy Myall (violin), Jo Richards (cello), Katherine Shave (viola)

A Selection from the Academy's Repertoire


 

Most of these compositions are included in the Academy's cd "Osmanlı Sarayından Avrupa Müziği / European music at the Ottoman court".

Additional information on the composers and compositions in the repertoire

W.R.P. COPE (fl. 18th century) The Turkish Ambassador's Grand March D major (1794)
CHARLES LOUIS NAPOLÉON d'ALBERT (1809-86) The Sultan's Polka D major (c.1850)
CALLISTO GUATELLI PASA (1820-99) Marche de l'Exposition Ottomane D minor (1863)
SULTAN ABDÜLAZIZ (1830-76) Invitation à la valse D minor (c.1861)
GIOACHINO ROSSINI (1792-1868) Marcia militare (Pas-redoublé) [Marche du Sultan Abdulmedjid] C major (1852)
CALLISTO GUATELLI PASA Inno Nazionale Ottomano - "Sultano Abdul-Medgid" A minor (c.1850)
Her Excellency IDA [SAIDE], Wife of Omer Pacha (?1834-?) March in A major (1855)
CALLISTO GUATELLI PASA Rafiè Sultana F minor/major (c.1850)
CALLISTO GUATELLI PASA Osmanié Marche D minor (c.1861)
LUIGI ARDITI (1822-1903) Inno Turco D major (1856/1867) [11] RIFAT BEY (1820-88) Harmonized by Guatelli Pasa Prière pour S.M. le Sultan Mourad [V] G modal (1876)
Her Excellency IDA [SAIDE], Wife of Omer Pacha Marche de Tchitaté E flat major (1854)
SULTAN V. MURAD (1840-1904) Shottische in C major (MS, c.1880)
GIUSEPPE DONIZETTI PASA (1788-1856) Mecidiye March F minor (1839)
SULTAN V. MURAD Valse in E flat (MS, 1879)
CALLISTO GUATELLI PASA Aziziye March C minor (1861)
SULTAN ABDÜLAZIZ La gondole barcarolle E minor (c.1861)
EMRE ARACI (b. 1968) The Turkish Ambassador's Grand March, Op. 5 C minor/major (1998) "Dedicated to Ambassador Özdem Sanberk and Mrs. Sanberk"