Ensemble Misafir

More than just musical guests from the land at the Golden Horn...
(musical director: Murat Coşkun)

The project Misafir (engl. “guest”) was founded by the percussionist Murat Coşkun in 2010. It is more than just a pleasant and melodious rendezvous of illustrious guests bringing Turkish music with them.

It also is a platform for the encounter of diverse musicians. These are all masters in their field, which go on worldwide concert tours and are invited to important festivals, and all of them are very experienced in Turkish music. In a virtuous way, they present refreshing interpretations of traditional and classical Osman music from the 14th to the 18th century, as well as sacral songs from Turkey.

At the first glance, Misafir seem to be guests from old times and foreign countries, but in spite of this, the audience feels into the here and now together with the musicians. They experience the music so lively and intensely as it was played and felt then, even though, at the same time, this music is so unusual, as it was never heard at that time.