Musicians blend song, technology

Turkish performers balance classical music and digital recording

By Morgan Steger
The Collegian

Fresno State students got the opportunity to experience a musical taste of Istanbul Monday night as Turkish flutist Bora Korkmaz and pianist Füreya Ünal put their talent on display in the Wahlberg Recital Hall.

Before a small but rapt audience, Korkmaz and Ünal presented “Contemporary Sounds from Istanbul,” which included both classical pieces and modern-sounding solos.

Korkmaz and Ünal demonstrated the breadth of their musical ability by mixing frantic, suspenseful pieces with somber, more pensive selections to create an intriguing wave of music, all while maintaining impeccable control of their instruments.

The highlights of the concert were Korkmaz and Ünal’s solo pieces, both of which sampled modern technology to add nuance and vibrancy to every note played.

Korkmaz’s solo, “Sabah,” featured his live flute notes soaring over an intense hum of background music, emanating from a CD recording. The contrast between his pure notes and the din of the recording illustrated the dark mood of the piece, making its title, which means “mourning,” seem appropriate.

Ünal’s selection, “Tombeau de Messiaen,” melded a digitized audio recording of her piano playing with live notes to create a mesmerizing web of sound. She deftly balanced expansive, crashing flourishes with delicate, barely perceptible notes to create a unique and engaging solo.

The mélange of live musical performance with canned tracks is something that she and Korkmaz have performed for Turkish audiences, Ünal said. “We’re trying to play a little bit more contemporary music,” she said.

The two musicians, who made a stop at Fresno State at the invitation of music professor Benjamin Boone, both began playing instruments when they were very young.

Ünal was only 3 when she started to play the piano.

They each studied at Istanbul University State Conservatory and went on to hone their crafts in Europe, where they have performed individually in many countries including Germany, France and Switzerland.

Korkmaz said being a musician has allowed him to do what he loves, while traveling and meeting new people. “It’s great to make music,” he said. “And, it’s fun.”

For student composers, pianists and flutists in the audience, hearing new pieces such as those presented in the concert, as well as witnessing Korkmaz and Ünal’s exquisite technical mastery of their instruments is inspirational, Boone said. “It’s valuable for our students to be exposed to as many top level performers as possible,” he said.

Comment on this story in the Features forum >>