Gürer Aykal
Encyclopedia
Gürer Aykal is a Turkish
conductor
and Adjunct Professor at Bilkent University
. He has been the musical director and principal conductor of the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra
since 1999.
, Turkey
. He studied at the Ankara State Conservatory
, completing a course on violin
in 1963 (under Necdet Remzi Atak) and another on composition
in 1969 (under Ahmed Adnan Saygun). He went on to study conducting in London
at the Guildhall School of Music, where he was taught by such conductors as André Previn
and George Hurst
. He then went to Italy
for further study, graduating with a D.M.A. in conducting from Santa Cecilia Academy of Music
in 1973. Finally, on Adnan Saygun's request, he stayed in Italy to study Gregorian chant
and polyphonic
Renaissance music
at the Pontificio Istituto di Musica Sacra.
, the English Chamber Orchestra
, the London Philharmonic Orchestra
, the Sinfonieorchester des Norddeutschen Rundfunks Hamburg, the Ankara Chamber Orchestra (which he founded with Suna Kan
), and the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra
. In 1975 he became the principal conductor of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra
in Ankara
.
From 1987 to 1991, Aykal was the music director of the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra in Texas
, and subsequently from 1992 to 2004 he served as the music director of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, also in Texas.
in 1981 for his services to music.
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
and Adjunct Professor at Bilkent University
Bilkent University
İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent University, commonly referred to as Bilkent University or Bilkent, is the first private, nonprofit university in Turkey with the fundamental aim of creating a center of excellence in higher education and research...
. He has been the musical director and principal conductor of the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra
Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra
The Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra was founded by enlarging the Borusan Chamber Orchestra in 1999. This orchestra is funded by Borusan Holding.- History:...
since 1999.
Education
Aykal was born in EskişehirEskisehir
Eskişehir is a city in northwestern Turkey and the capital of the Eskişehir Province. According to the 2009 census, the population of the city is 631,905. The city is located on the banks of the Porsuk River, 792 m above sea level, where it overlooks the fertile Phrygian Valley. In the nearby...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. He studied at the Ankara State Conservatory
Ankara State Conservatory
The Ankara State Conservatory, the first conservatory to be founded in the Republic of Turkey, was established in 1936 by a directive of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.- Notable attendees :* Paul Hindemith* Carl Ebert* Evelyn Baghtcheban* Samin Baghtcheban...
, completing a course on violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
in 1963 (under Necdet Remzi Atak) and another on composition
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
in 1969 (under Ahmed Adnan Saygun). He went on to study conducting in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
at the Guildhall School of Music, where he was taught by such conductors as André Previn
André Previn
André George Previn, KBE is an American pianist, conductor, and composer. He is considered one of the most versatile musicians in the world, and is the winner of four Academy Awards for his film work and ten Grammy Awards for his recordings. -Early Life:Previn was born in...
and George Hurst
George Hurst
George Hurst is a British conductor.-Biography:Born in Edinburgh in 1926, Hurst studied at Bishops College School in Lennoxville, Quebec and the Royal Conservatory in Toronto Canada....
. He then went to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
for further study, graduating with a D.M.A. in conducting from Santa Cecilia Academy of Music
Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
The Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia is one of the oldest musical institutions in the world, based in Italy.It is based at the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome, and was founded by the papal bull, Ratione congruit, issued by Sixtus V in 1585, which invoked two saints prominent in Western...
in 1973. Finally, on Adnan Saygun's request, he stayed in Italy to study Gregorian chant
Gregorian chant
Gregorian chant is the central tradition of Western plainchant, a form of monophonic liturgical music within Western Christianity that accompanied the celebration of Mass and other ritual services...
and polyphonic
Polyphony
In music, polyphony is a texture consisting of two or more independent melodic voices, as opposed to music with just one voice or music with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords ....
Renaissance music
Renaissance music
Renaissance music is European music written during the Renaissance. Defining the beginning of the musical era is difficult, given that its defining characteristics were adopted only gradually; musicologists have placed its beginnings from as early as 1300 to as late as the 1470s.Literally meaning...
at the Pontificio Istituto di Musica Sacra.
Career
Aykal has conducted the Istanbul State Symphony OrchestraIstanbul State Symphony Orchestra
The Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra is a Turkish symphony orchestra based in Istanbul.Founded in 1945 as the Istanbul Municipality City Orchestra, its first principal conductor was Cemal Reşit Rey. In 1972 it became the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra...
, the English Chamber Orchestra
English Chamber Orchestra
The English Chamber Orchestra is a British chamber orchestra based in London. The full orchestra regularly plays concerts at Cadogan Hall, and the ECO Ensemble performs at Wigmore Hall...
, the London Philharmonic Orchestra
London Philharmonic Orchestra
The London Philharmonic Orchestra , based in London, is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom, and is based in the Royal Festival Hall. In addition, the LPO is the main resident orchestra of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera...
, the Sinfonieorchester des Norddeutschen Rundfunks Hamburg, the Ankara Chamber Orchestra (which he founded with Suna Kan
Suna Kan
Suna Kan, born on October 21, 1936 in Adana, Turkey. Great Turkish violinist.She started playing the violin at the age of five and gave her first public concerts when she was only nine years old, performing Mozart's A major and Viotti's A minor violin concertos with the Presidential Symphony...
), and the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra
Concertgebouw
The Concertgebouw is a concert hall in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Dutch term "concertgebouw" literally translates into English as "concert building"...
. In 1975 he became the principal conductor of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra
Presidential Symphony Orchestra
Presidential Symphony Orchestra is the presidential symphony orchestra of the Republic of Turkey. It is headquartered in Ankara...
in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
.
From 1987 to 1991, Aykal was the music director of the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and subsequently from 1992 to 2004 he served as the music director of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, also in Texas.
Awards
The Turkish government awarded him the honorary title of State ArtistState Artist
State Artist is a honorary title issued to artists by the government of Turkey for their contributions into the Turkish culture. It was established in 1971 by President of Turkey and the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism....
in 1981 for his services to music.
Sources and external links
- Harriet Smith, "Turkish Delight" (BBC Music MagazineBBC music magazineBBC Music Magazine is a magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom by BBC Worldwide, the commercial subsidiary of the BBC. Reflecting the broadcast output of BBC Radio 3, the magazine is devoted primarily to classical music, though with sections on jazz and world music. Each edition comes...
12:11, July 2004: pp 28–31) - "Gürer Aykal" — Leyla Gencer Voice Competition page
- "Gürer Aykal" — Bilkent University