Music of Turkey

Germany is set to host the internationally renowned Fire of Anatolia (Anadolu Ateşi) this December, as the celebrated dance troupe brings its awe-inspiring cultural performance to four major cities from Dec. 14-18.

Tickets for the highly anticipated shows, which promise a dazzling fusion of folk traditions and modern dance, are now on sale.

Popular Turkish singer Barbaros has recently released a new song called "Gel" (Come), bringing back the nostalgic Turkish pop sound we have missed. With lyrics and composition by Umut Yaşar Sarıkaya and arrangement by renowned musician Mustafa Ceceli, the track is released under the Pasion Turca label.

Ömar Faruk Tekbilek, a Turkish musician living in the United States, is renowned for his mastery of Turkish traditional instruments, such as the baglama, ney, hand drum, zurna and bendir.

Turkish singer Gaye Su Akyol is coming to Greece to perform at Gazarte (34 Voutadon) in Athens on November 15 and at Mylos Club (56 Georgiou Andreou) in Thessaloniki on November 16. Anthropologist-turned-musician Akyol, along with her ensemble of Turkish musicians, brings a psychedelic rock twist to traditional Anatolian sounds. Tickets cost 25 euros at more.com.

Istanbul's transportation network has commemorated the renowned Turkish folk singer Neşet Ertaş with specially designed buses on the 12th anniversary of his death.

These buses, featuring quotes from Ertaş's famous folk songs, will operate for one week in Istanbul, bridging both the European and Asian sides of the city.

The first acts have been announced for the Lalibela Music Festival, set to take place at OAKA (Olimpionikon & Spirou Loui) on July 2. British rockers Kasabian will headline, mixing their greatest hits with new tracks, while Dutch-Turkish psych-folk band Altin Gun will set the scene, reviving 70s Turkish music with funk and rock. More bookings are set to be announced soon.

The singer dances a tsifteteli while listening to her duet with The Kings

Turkey's first Turkish music primary school educates talented children from an early age to represent the country on an international scale. The schools offers music education in addition to the lessons in the curriculum of the National Education Ministry (MEB).

The New York Atatürk Choir has presented a musical feast to their audiences in an open-air concert in Manhattan using traditional and classical instruments.

In line with the New York City Open Culture Program, the choir - the only Turkish music band - performed a concert called "Turkish Melodies in Manhattan" to the delight of music lovers.

A bank commercial on Turkish television featuring the imitation of Zeki Müren, an iconic Turkish singer touted as the country's "sun of art," has stirred a vicious debate on social media involving famous figures.

The debate was ignited last week by a remark made by Barış Yarkadaş, a former lawmaker of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and also a columnist.