Music Lover's Guide to Istanbul
Description:
This guide obviously does not and cannot cover all that there is to do in Istanbul with regards to music. Above all, it cannot satiate every music lover's appetite as appetite for music is more specific to a person's specific interests and personality. The guide does in fact try to pin-point to some of the off-the-beaten and irregular musical happenings in the city through out the year as well as some of the established ones.
Author: aisha
Day 1 - Istanbul
International Istanbul Music Festival is organized by Istanbul Kultur Sanat Vakfı (Istanbul Culture and Arts Foundation), IKSV. In 2009, the International Istanbul Music Festival was organized during the month of June, and that was followed by Istanbul Jazz Festival from the beginning of July to the middle of July. Famous artists such George Benson, Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten charmed the Istanbulites in various corners of the city from magnificent open-air theaters to ancient churches. So, check out your and that of IKSV's calendars before you travel if you do not want to miss nights of quality music. Word has it that next year's Jazz Festival will be held from the first of July to the 15th.
Fridays are significant for the Islamic tradition. Some of the faithful public visit the mosque on Fridays to do their service to God. The Friday prayer sessions are reserved for males only, yet given the busyness of daily business lives of most men, the tradition is not followed by the greater majority. The Call to Prayer can nevertheless by witnessed by all and not just on Fridays. Call to Prayer occurs five times a day everyday; and when the müezzin's (the chief prayer of the mosque) voice is deep and nice, Call to Prayer has a spiritual essence.
1
Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts
Location:
view in google mapsİstiklal Caddesi 64 Beyoğlu
Beyoğlu
34435 Istanbul, Turkey
Phone:
90 212 334 07002
Ezan (Call to Prayer)
Location:
Istanbul, TurkeyDay 2 - Istanbul
Rock'n Coke Music Festival started on a Saturday in mid July last year (2009) and hosted a variety of national and international talented artists and groups, including Linkin' Park. You may still buy daily tickets to the Festival, but the organizers were thinking of relinquishing the sales of daily tickets to increase participation to all concerts. Pack your tents and rock-you-go!
If you prefer not to go about rocking, you may go to Garaj Istanbul for alternative forms of art and music; or drop by at Çiçek Pasajı for dinner or drinks and give yourself into a session of "fasıl" (a special musical program of old and classical Turkish songs).
2
Garaj Istanbul
Location:
view in google mapsKaymakam Reşat Bey sokak no. 11
Galatasaray
Istanbul, Turkey
Phone:
90 212 244 44 993
Çiçek Pasajı
Location:
view in google mapsİstiklal Caddesi
34433 Istanbul, Turkey
Day 3 - Istanbul
Agreed that it makes no sense to cite a shopping mall under musical events, but since the summer of 2009, Kanyon has been hosting some of the most talented Turkish musicians of Jazz under the tag "Jazz in Open Air".
Yet another alternative for the day is to check out the weekly Jazz sessions at the Sakıp Sabancı Museum. The Museum hosts Jazz concerts every Sunday during the summer.
1
Kanyon Alişveriş Merkezi
Location:
view in google mapsBuyukdere Caddesi No:185
Istanbul, Turkey
Phone:
+90 0212 281 08002
Sakip Sabanci Museum
Location:
view in google mapsSakip Sabanci Cad. 22
Emirgan
34467 Istanbul, Turkey
Phone:
+90 212 277 2200Day 4 - Istanbul
The Dervish Lodge will offer you a spiritual experience to listen to the religious chants of the whirling dervishes.
The entire Galata region, including around the Tower and the Tünel area, has a lot to offer to the music lovers. There are many shops selling music disks, plaque and instruments, even antique ones for the interested. Right below the Tower, there is a new Jazz Bar, that offers quality music for ears. New places open and close fast, so arrive with open eyes and ears and make discoveries.
1
Galata Mevlevihanesi (Dervish Lodge)
Location:
view in google mapsGalip Dede Caddesi 15
Tünel
34430 Istanbul, Turkey
Phone:
90 212 245 41412
Galata Tower
Location:
view in google mapsGalata
Istanbul, Turkey
Phone:
90 212 245 11 603
Tünel
Location:
view in google mapsGalip Dede Caddesi
34430 Istanbul, Turkey
Phone:
+90 21 2522 4902Day 5 - Istanbul
All through the year, it is possible to catch a glimpse of global talents at renown centers such as Lutfu Kirdar inside the Congress Valley, Cemal Resit Rey, Is Sanat and many other small-scale chamber orchestra music houses. Most of these places have a year-round calendar of events and host a variety of musicians from Jazz to classical music.
Apart from their year-round calendar, some of these places also host Festivals organized by Music and Art Foundations, such as Ak Sanat of the Akbank or Is Sanat by the Isbank. As part of these festivals, it is also possible to experience sensational performances inside historic churches of Istanbul, including the St. Antoine and the Aya Irene churches.
Tickets and calendars might be found online at www.biletix.com
1
Congress Valley
Location:
view in google mapsLütfü Kırdar Convention & Exhibition Center Harbiye
34267 Istanbul, Turkey
Phone:
+90 212 373 1100