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Kardeş Türküler, meaning "Brotherly Songs" in Turkish, is a contemporary folk music group formed in 1993 by students of Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, Turkey. The group emerged as part of a concert project initiated by the university’s Folklore Club, aiming to explore and celebrate the rich tapestry of Anatolian and Mesopotamian cultural heritage.
A Multilingual Repertoire
Kardeş Türküler is renowned for performing in a wide array of languages including Turkish, Kurdish, Azerbaijani, Armenian, Georgian, Laz, Circassian, Romeika (Pontic Greek), and Persian. Their music reflects the cultural mosaic of the region and stands as a message of unity, peace, and coexistence among different ethnic and religious groups.
Origins and Evolution
The project began as a stage performance that combined Turkish, Kurdish, Azerbaijani, and Armenian folk songs. With the encouragement of Ömer Faruk Kurhan, the name "Kardeş Türküler" was adopted, and the project expanded to include songs and dances from other cultures such as Laz, Georgian, Circassian, Romani, Macedonian, and Alevi traditions.
In 1995, the core members helped found the Boğaziçi Performing Arts Ensemble (BGST), under which the group continues to perform and develop its projects.
Discography and Achievements
In 1997, they released their debut album titled Kardeş Türküler, a selection of songs from their live performances. This was followed by their influential 1999 album Doğu ("East"), which included their original compositions and brought them widespread recognition in Turkey and abroad.
In 2000, they held a landmark concert at Istanbul’s Harbiye Open-Air Theatre, which became an annual tradition. That same year, their music was featured in international media such as Radio Not-Wonderful (UK) and Songlines Magazine. Two songs were also included in Jérôme Cler’s book Musiques de Turquie published in France.
Kardeş Türküler composed and arranged music for iconic Kurdish singer Şivan Perwer’s album Roj û Heyv (2000), and composed the award-winning soundtracks for the films Vizontele (2000) and Vizontele Tuuba (2003), winning Best Film Music at the 38th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival.
They also contributed Kurdish and Arabic pieces to the Hollywood film Kingdom of Heaven (2005).
The group has released several critically acclaimed albums, including:
Official website: http://www.kardesturkuler.com/
