- BIST10011,572-1.28%
- USD49.45+0.05%
- EUR55.62+0.37%
- GOLD4,182.70+0.04%
- INTEREST37.00%-1.00
- BITCOIN82,421+0.50%
- October 19, 20269°
- BIST10011,572-1.28%
- USD49.45+0.05%
- EUR55.62+0.37%
- GOLD4,182.70+0.04%
- INTEREST37.00%-1.00
- BITCOIN82,421+0.50%
- October 19, 20269°
American violinist Wozniak connects Turkish music with different cultures
Hawaii-born American violinist Audrey Wozniak has been learning Turkish music through the meşk tradition and local musicians since arriving in Türkiye in 2015. After completing her doctorate in ethnomusicology at Harvard University, Wozniak continues her work between England, Istanbul and Rize.
American violinist Audrey Wozniak’s journey into Turkish music took a new direction in 2015, when she came to Türkiye after researching the traditional music of different countries. Born in Hawaii and later moving to Texas with her family during her childhood, Wozniak began her musical education at the age of 6.
After watching violinist Itzhak Perlman on the children’s program Sesame Street, Wozniak turned to the violin with her family’s support. During her childhood and teenage years, she studied works by major Western composers such as Beethoven, Bach and Mozart.
Wozniak spent a year studying in Japan during high school and began learning Chinese afterward. During her university years, she encountered the traditional music of Azerbaijan, the Uyghur Turks, China and Indonesia, researching the violin’s use and techniques in different cultures.
She discovered ethnomusicology in Türkiye
Wozniak’s meeting with Iranian kamancheh player Kayhan Kalhor influenced her decision to come to Türkiye. After Kalhor advised her to go to Istanbul, the musician came to Türkiye in 2015 and encountered the field of ethnomusicology for the first time there.
Wozniak, who completed her doctorate in this field, which seeks to understand societies through music and sound, decided to remain in Türkiye in 2024. She divides her time between England, Istanbul and Rize, aiming to connect Turkish music with different cultures through her concerts, research and television programs.
The meşk tradition changed how she learned music
During her early period in Türkiye, one of the elements that attracted Wozniak’s interest was the meşk tradition. Seeing musicians drink tea and chat in a teacher’s office before taking out their instruments and performing pieces together showed her how Turkish music is learned and passed on differently from Western music.
Wozniak said that, before she knew Turkish, the intervals in microtonal music sounded different to her. She noted that although the violin has been part of Turkish music for more than 250 years, it is played with a different technique in Türkiye.
Wozniak also took an interest in the kemenche used in Black Sea music, saying that she was trying to learn the region’s complex rhythms, ornaments and techniques. She said she was influenced by the musical histories of Kırşehir and Elazığ, which stretch back thousands of years.
She played a Neşet Ertaş piece at a solidarity concert
Wozniak said that the concert she was scheduled to give at the invitation of the Zurich Turkish Music Society was turned into a solidarity concert after it coincided with the period when the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş occurred. At the concert, the musician played Neşet Ertaş’s piece Neredesin Sen.
Wozniak said she understood Neşet Ertaş’s importance after discovering long airs, broken airs and bozlak, adding that she greatly enjoys performing the artist’s works. She described audiences singing along with the pieces as the revival of a shared emotion.
She brings Western and Turkish music together in joint projects
Wozniak said Turkish music cannot be easily understood through explanation alone and that she tries to offer small examples in her work and performances. The musician, who has taken part in projects combining Western and Turkish music, reflects her training in both musical traditions in her work as a distinctive perspective.
Through the program I Am Listening to Türkiye, which she prepared for TRT Music, Wozniak visited many regions of Türkiye and learned the local music from musicians in the places she visited.
Wozniak said Türkiye’s surroundings, ecology and historical position have influenced her, associating England with duty, Istanbul with work and research, and Rize with enjoyment, ecology and peace. She said she feels comfortable, happy and safe in Türkiye.
Stay Updated with Ally Daily
Subscribe to be informed about special news, developments and announcements. We will keep you informed.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy
