Joelyn Baluyut
DOHA
The CineMoon Ensemble, member of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO), will hold a concert titled ‘Folk’s Beautiful Melodies’ tonight at the Qatar National Library.
This event will feature traditional folk tunes from around the world, offering a unique blend of cultures and music styles.
Merve Kenet Bulun, founder and artistic director of CineMoon Ensemble, shared her excitement about the programme with Qatar Tribune.
“Our concert’s repertoire is special because we want to share the musical cultures each of us grew up with,” she said.
“As a Turkish musician, I bring influences from both modern Turkish music and traditional Ottoman serail music. For instance, audiences will hear a Turkish tango sung by Zehra Özçelik, alongside a medley from the 19th century that includes Katibim, a beautiful love song from Istanbul.”
The ensemble will also perform Nihavend Longa, a piece by an Ottoman-era woman composer who played violin in the palace orchestra.
“This piece we will perform with qanun and oud, and CineMoon Ensemble will also showcase the virtuosity inside the traditional music,” Bulun explained.
CineMoon’s international lineup offers a rich array of folk music. Romanian folk dances arranged by Béla Bartók highlight the country’s famous folk traditions.
“Romania has a vibrant history of folk dance, and Bartók’s pieces capture that spirit beautifully,” said Bulun.
The concert will also feature Greek music and tangos from various cultures, reflecting the joyous spirit of folk music around the world.
Tonight’s soloists include Zehra Özçelik on oud and vocals, and Dr Shabnam Shikhaliyeva, a qanun teacher at Qatar Music Academy, who hails from Azerbaijan. The programme will feature Mazi, a Turkish tango by Necip Celal Andel, arranged by Istanbul Symphony Orchestra’s principal conductor, Hasan Tura. Meanwhile, Lorena Manescu, CineMoon Ensemble’s co-founder and concertmaster, arranged the Romanian folk pieces.
The concert programme has a vibrant eclectic selection, including Camille Saint-Saëns’ Danse Bacchanale, Brahms’ Hungarian Dances No 1 & 5, and Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances. Tango enthusiasts can look forward to Por Una Cabeza by Carlos Gardel and Libertango by Astor Piazzolla. The evening will conclude with lively Greek and Turkish folk pieces, including Mikis Theodorakis’ Zorba’s Dance and Three Turkish Folk Songs, with compositions by Ethem Efendi, Kevser Hanım, and others.
‘Folk’s Beautiful Melodies’ concert will begin at 6:30pm and will run for an hour. Although fully booked, interested attendees can join the waitlist via Qatar National Library’s event website at events.qnl.qa.
