Derya Türkan has been the world’s most influential Istanbul kemençesi performer for almost three decades now. He has performed world wide and recorded as a leader or in collaboration with prominent international musicians in a variety of musical styles, from classical to contemporary improvisation. With Istanbul Kemençesi vol. II, Derya Türkan presents his second album highlighting the classical music of his hometown Istanbul. He is accompanied by Belgian percussionist Robbe Kieckens on tombak and bendir.
It was a cloudy day in October. We’d headed to the Wallonian countryside to record in the small church of Saint-Rémi, that stood almost secretly behind some very old oak trees. My friend Robbe Kieckens had been called in to accompany the Turkish kemençe master on bendir and tombak. Before recording started, we said a few words but not all that much. The session took an hour or two and was spent in silence, the two men playing music, just music. A single full take was enough for basically every track of the album. And I remember somewhere halfway the session, Derya Türkan suddenly turned his head, smiled briefly and said to his companion: “nice to meet you.” On the way back, we looked at the sky. Something had truly been fulfilled. Tristan Driessens, Veyrignac, 7th of July 2022.
