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A Turkish delight
Almost the world over, the guitar has become a symbol for that most raucous and adventurous of musical genres: Rock. However, it has quite an illustrious history predating rock and roll by quite a bit of time. What most people are familiar with is the amplified sound of the six-stringed steel instrument. But the luxuriant sounds of the classical guitar with its supple nylon strings and incredibly warm sound have just as lasting an impression on the cultured ear as that of the beautiful disquietude of rock. This was amply proven in a surreal live performance by the visiting Turkish guitar duo of Terci-Korad.
Treating Karachi to a one-off performance, the duo thoroughly delighted with their impeccable playing, as the intensely cold hall of the five-star hotel, which was hosting the event, was warmed up with the sounds from Anatolia.
The duo of Kursad Terci and Kagan Korad, formed in 2000, is incredibly accomplished. They have been playing music in various duos, trios and quartets since 1987 and both men hold doctorates in music — PhDs — from a Turkish university. Apart from their native Turkey, the group has also performed in the former Yugoslavia, Germany and France. The guitarists aim to introduce Turkish music to other cultures as well as creating an awareness of classical guitar music in the Anatolian heartland. Their repertoire includes mostly the works of Turkish composers, as well as that of a few foreign compositions and some of their own transcriptions.
Helping bring this brand of Turkic harmonies to Karachi was Turk Hava Yollari and a brand of Turkish consumer products, the ubiquitous banners of both covering the hall. Also adorning the walls and the stage were the blood-red standards of the Turkish republic. The guests were the usual assemblage of diplomats, head-dressed Saudis, socialites, politicos, press people and a smattering of normal everyday Joe’s.
The music was in a class by itself. The gathered enjoyed the renditions of the anonymous classics with their lightning fast picking and zealous melodies. It was striking to note that some of the songs bore a slight resemblance to acoustic Led Zeppelin, though this classically influenced material was the farthest thing from Zep. The volley of intricately played, finger-picked glory continued sans voice of course, as a rich dynamic of layered strumming and reverberating notes was formed.
The skill of these gentlemen can be gauged by the fact that they held most of the rapt audience in their grip without the aid of backing instruments or vocals to prop up and pad their set. Just two lone guitarists picking away with a passion for playing — that was all they needed. Their experienced playing was enough to weave a cloak of melodic mastery over the true music lovers in the crowd.
There was truly no complaint on the performance front, yet it was sad to note that it was mostly the Pakistanis in the crowd who were chattering away with reckless abandon during the sedate performance.
A heartily strummed finale closed off a well-done show, as the chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau — filling an as chief guest for the politically occupied Governor Soomro — concluded the event with a thank you speech.
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