A Gift from God to Me

By Faruk Akkan with Y. Niyazbayev in Moscow - Today's Zaman - Istanbul, Turkey; Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Tekbilek and his multinational ensemble enchant Moscow audience

Renowned ney virtuoso Ömer Faruk Tekbilek and his multinational ensemble performed an unforgettable concert in Moscow over the weekend to an audience of Russians, Tatars and Armenians.

Tekbilek, one of the most important representatives of Sufi music in the world whose compositions are featured in numerous world music compilations by famed DJs, fascinated the audience at the Mir Concert Hall with his command of several oriental music instruments including the ney (reed flute), the zurna (double-reed oboe-like instrument with a buzzing tone), bağlama (long-necked lute) and percussions.

Tekbilek, who likens playing music to praying and who doesn't separate music and Sufism from each other, also recited a number of hymns and parts of the Quran during the concert.

Accompanying him was his multinational ensemble, consisting of Armenian percussionist River Guerguerian on the bendir (a percussion instrument), Israeli-born Canadian musician Itamar Erez on the guitar and Greek musician Yannis Dimitriadis on the keyboard, while Tekbilek's son, Murat, played the darbuka (a type of drum).

In what was his first-ever performance in Moscow, Tekbilek said: "I've been going to Spain, Brazil, Israel, Greece and the Arab countries. We are also planning a concert in Armenia. They all receive us very well. Music goes straight to people's hearts. Humanity can be understood better through music."

Speaking to the Cihan news agency, Tekbilek said there was no point in arguing which one of the paths was better to follow according to Sufism, but to "follow the path of the creator as all messengers point out."

Proud of his multinational ensemble, Tekbilek said: "This ensemble is a gift to me from God. I wanted somebody from the West to play the keyboard since the Western culture is closer to this instrument, but for the rest of the musicians, I had no plans. They found me. All God given."

Tekbilek, who visits Greece frequently for concerts, recalling one of his visits there, said: "The Greek state radio interviewed with me. We hugged each other. They told me how close our cultures are. ... People desire peace. I go to Israel and the same thing happens there. Arabs and Israelis share the same excitement at the concerts. They don't want wars."

Meanwhile, bendir player Guerguerian, who was born in Canada to Armenian, Egyptian and Syrian parents, said: "Greek, Armenian or Turk, we all speak the same language harmoniously here. We should not carry yesterday's historical problems to the present day obstructing the future. I love and respect the Turkish people. I'd like our children to live in a world of peace and love."

Born in Ankara, Tekbilek's career reached a new height after he moved to the United States in 1976 and started working with musician and record producer Brian Keane.

Together they composed a song for a documentary about Ottoman Emperor Süleyman to coincide with the opening of an exhibition at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, featured on Keane's 1988 album "Süleyman the Magnificent."

He has since established himself as one of the world's foremost exponents of Middle Eastern music. A multi-instrumentalist par excellence, he has collaborated with a number of leading musicians of international repute such as jazz trumpeter Don Cherry, keyboard player Karl Berger and ex-Cream rock drummer Ginger Baker.

He has contributed to numerous film and television scores and many recordings including world sacred music albums and has been touring extensively throughout the Middle East, Europe, Australia and America.

[Picture: Internationally acclaimed Turkish musician Ömer Faruk Tekbilek blows the reed flute during a concert at İstanbul’s Harbiye Open-air Theater, accompanied by the band Metropol, in May 2005.]