Kemenche player Neva Ozgen made history with the first solo instrumental recording by a female artist in the Turkish classical music world. On her debut CD Legacy, Neva Ozgen played the kemenche accompanied by her father Ihsan Ozgen on the tanbur and rebab. Though all three instruments are traditional to Turkish classical music this album once more breaks ground as there exist only a very few previous recordings of the Turkish rebab.
On Legacy, Neva and Ihsan Ozgen performed the taksim, the traditional Turkish art of improvisation with the classical works of composers such as Nai Osman Dede, Neyzen Salih Dede and Ismail Dede Efendi among others.
As the daughter of the highly-respected Turkish classical musician Ihsan Ozgen, Neva Ozgen grew up surrounded by music. Though she began her musical studies in the Western classical traditions Neva Ozgen soon became drawn towards the Turkish classical world of her famous father and began the study of the kemenche, immersing herself in the traditional compositions of Tanburi Cemil Bey.
Discography:
Legacy (Golden Horn Records, 2001)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
