Musicology Lecture Series 2026 – Dr. Nevin Şahin: Istanbulite Connections in Greek American Music: A Choral Voyage

Concert of “Asia Minor 1922-2022: Remembrance, Music and Tradition,” by the Anatoliama Ensemble and Holy Cross St. Romanos the Melodist Byzantine Choir, sponsored by Boston Byzantine Music Festival (photo by Nevin Şahin).

22.4.26, 19:00
Lecture
Orient-Institut Istanbul
Moderator: Cüneyt Ersin Mıhcı
Language: English

“Why did I come to America?” laments Achilleas Poulos in one of his songs dating back to the 1920s, written a decade after he had moved to his new home in a distant land – full of hopes, but sorrowfully missing his old home. This question became popular as “Why did I come to İstanbul?” in Türkiye in the 1990s, with a completely new context but similarly drawing upon the memory of an old home. Triggered by this question in flow, this research seeks music-theoretical traces from centuries ago and miles afar by examining the musical experiences of Greek Americans and asking whether the music of their new home in the U.S. still carries the theoretical notions of the Byzantine oktōēchos and Ottoman makams of their old home — the “Polis.”

This evening will take you on a research journey passing through the East Coast and the West Coast of the USA, digging into archives, attending concerts, interviewing musicians and ultimately focusing on two contemporary choral compositions that reveal a shared connection to the tradition rooted in “tin poli”. Giving insights into the background of Greek immigration to the U.S., and reflecting on how the Byzantine musical tradition is being received and revived during the second century at the new home, this talk will present a musical analysis of two choral works, the first, “Heaven and Earth”, being the work of six composers, and the second, “İstanbul” by B. Emre Orhon, bridging the geographical distance with Istanbulite melodic and rhythmic elements.

Nevin Şahin is an award-winning researcher of makam music, currently an assistant professor of music theories at Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory. Following her degrees at Middle East Technical University, she worked at the Orient-Institut Istanbul as a research associate of the Corpus Musicae Ottomanicae before she conducted postdoctoral research as a Fulbright fellow at Boston University. Her academic work focuses on comparative music theories, together with compositional and performance analyses of vocal music. Being active in the Turkish choral music scene as a singer in both monophonic art music and polyphonic choirs, Dr Şahin integrates her experience as a performer with an academic perspective from her interdisciplinary background.

The lecture is part of the Musicology Lecture Series organized and curated by Cüneyt Ersin Mıhcı.

The language of the event is English. Participation is free of charge. To join this invitation in person please register through the link below. To join online no registration is necessary. Photos or videos will be taken during the event. By participating, you agree that these may be used on the OII website, newsletter and social media. The event will not be recorded.

VENUE

Orient-Institut Istanbul
Galip Dede Cad. 65, Şahkulu Mah., TR – 34421 Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 293 60 67 oiist@oiist.org www.oiist.org

REGISTRATION

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