A Turk in Seattle, a work for flute, clarinet, violin and cello by UCLA based Turkish-American composer Munir Beken received it’s New York premiere on December 9th at a concert at Symphony Space in New York City by ISSA Sonus ensemble (Flutist Laura Falzon, Clarinetist Moran Katz, Violinist Emily Ondracek and Cellist Adrian Daurov.
This work together with four other compositions by the same composer will be recorded in February 2011 for an upcoming CD by ISSA Sonus ensemble of composer Munir Beken’s works.
Composer and Ud performer Münir Nurettin Beken, a professor of theory and composition in the Ethnomusicology Department at UCLA, has written compositions ranging from a Turkish state-commissioned ballet suite for orchestra, to music for film and television, for which he has won various awards. He is one of the founding members of the State Turkish Music Ensemble. A Turk in Seattle was commissioned in 2006, by the Seattle Chamber Players. It reflects several influences. Some of the rhythmic elements are based upon Turkish patterns. Certain melodies are from the Turkish Classical repertoire and they reflect composer’s time spent with the Turkish community in Seattle.