The Turkish Harp

The Turkish Harp project aims to disseminate the tradition of Turkish music through the harp, contributing to the instrument’s contemporary identity by making Turkish music accessible to harpists worldwide. By integrating both historical and modern elements, the project aims to bridge the gap between the rich past of Turkish music and its contemporary relevance in the harp world. The Turkish Harp rests on two key foundations. First, it is involved in the revival of the “çeng,” an ancient Near-Eastern harp that had been lost for over 400 years. Second, it works on creating a universal musical language for Turkish music through a critically annotated edition of Turkish music for modern-day harps and harpists, reflecting both the musical style and the deep expressiveness of this tradition. By keeping the memory of the “çeng” alive on modern harps, the project reaches out to harpists, educators, listeners, and music institutions, with the goal of amplifying the presence of Turkish music within the harp world, and ensuring its voice is heard by many.