Turkish oud player and composer Baha Yetkin grew up in Istanbul, the melting pot of European and Middle Eastern musical cultures. This is reflected in his methodically-written compositions, which are an amalgamation of improvisations based on Istanbul music and the complex rhythmic structures of Middle Eastern music, all with an emotional, meditative and spiritual undertone.
His skilful playing has led to fruitful collaborations with Turkish and European masters such as Mustafa Keser, İnci Çayırlı, Melihat Gülses, Petros Klampanis, Michalis Kouloumis and Çiğdem Aslan. Yetkin was the first ever Turkish oud player to be invited to give a solo recital at the Royal Albert Hall. This was followed by performances at prominent concert venues in Turkey and Europe, such as Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall, Lütfi Kırdar Meeting and Performance Hall and Zorlu Performing Arts Center, Vortex, Green Note, to name a few.
He also performed in festivals such as Alamar World Music Fest in Almeria, Yeldeğirmeni Spring Jazz Festival in Istanbul and Rebetiko Carnival in London. He performed in musical such as Sekspir 7 at Oyun Atolyesi, A Museum in Baghdad at the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Band’s Visit(a Broadway musical) at Donmar Warehouse. He also has done oud and makam music workshops in Istanbul, London, Cambridge and Madrid. His latest workshop was at Cambridge University. He makes videos to explain Ottoman music makams on his Youtube channel and his Superpeer channel.
In 2015, Baha moved to London where he currently resides. He continues performing and teaching in the UK and online as well. His debut album The Pearl was released in March 2019, in 2020 he released 2 singles – Shine Again and Tears of The Pearl and his latest album “The Turkish Oud” was released in April 2021.
Experience
Associations work with
- Ministry of National Education, Boğaziçi Music Foundation (2000-2003)
- Aşiyan Music Association (2003-2011) as an Oud player and senior conductor
- Suzidil Music Association (2003-2006) as an Oud player
- The Association of Lausanne Treaty Emigrants (2004-2006) as an Oud player
- Eser Music Association (2013-2015) as an Oud player, 2nd conductor
- Hos Seda Art and Culture Center as a Conductor (2016-2019)
- Vatan Cultural Turkish Music Foundation as a Conductor (2017-2019)
- Yunus Emre Institute London Branch (2015-present)
TV&Radio Programmes
- On Ankara Başkent TV with Aşiyan Music Association, 2004
- “Ha babam de babam” Entertainment Programme on Star TV (16 episodes), 2005
- “Uzaktakiler” with Yılmaz Morgül on TRT Avrasya, 2006
- 2 times “Televizyon Makinası” with Yılmaz Morgül on Star TV, 2006
- On Radio 7 with Aşiyan Music Association and İnci Çayırlı, 2007
- Some TRT recordings in Istanbul
- Play FM, London (December 2015)
- TV Londra (severel times in 2018-2019)
- TRT World – International Jazz Day Programme (April 2018 and May 2019)
- BBC 3 at Music Planet with Olcay Bayir (Sept 2020)
- BBC 3 at Music Planet – My music and My Oud (Apr 2022)
Theatre (Musical)
- “Şekspir’in 7’si” (7 eras of Shakespeare) at Oyun Atölyesi with Haluk Bilginer, 2009-2010
- “Fehim Paşa Konağı” (The mansion of Fehim Pasha) with Istanbul State theatre group at Turkey summer tour in 2013.
- “12.Gece” (Twelfth Night) at İş Sanat with “İş Oyuncuları”, as a Music Director, 2013-2014
- My Father, Odysseus at Unicorn Theatre, 2016
- Music and Soul by NW Live Art, June 2019
- A museum in Baghdad at The Royal Shakespeare Company, Oct 2020-Jan 2021
- The Band’s Visit “Broadway musical” at Donmar Warehouse Sept-Dec 2022
Concerts
- Many association events (Appr. 500)
- Example of Aşiyan Musiki Association Events (42 events) 2003-2011
- Armenian Composers’s Concert, Istanbul, 2006
- Armenian Composers’s Concert, Istanbul, (Sponsored by EU), 2011
- Armenian Composers’s Concert, Istanbul, (Sponsored by EU), 2013
- The Association of Lausanne Treaty Emigrants’ Events
- Karşı Yaka (The Opposite Shore), Istanbul, 2005
- Ege Türküleri (Aegean Folk Songs), Istanbul & Bursa, 2005
- Türk-Yunan Gecesi (Turkish-Greek Night), Istanbul, 2006
- Example of Aşiyan Musiki Association Events (42 events) 2003-2011
- Kalkedon Flamenko Band
- 15 concerts and 3 corporate events 2012-2015
- Fasl-ı Flamenko, (Sponsored by EU) Sep. 2013
- Kalkedon Duo (A’mak-ı Hayal Project)
- 7 concerts in some performance halls of Istanbul, 2014-2015
Taylan Polat’s Band
- Alamar Fest, Almeria/Spain, July 2014
- Teatro Gongaro, Cordoba/Spain, May 2015
- At a reception for 19th May in Turkish Embassy, Madrid, May 2015
- Hos Seda Turkish Music Choir
- 11 concerts in London’s performance halls and churches, 2016-2019
Cigdem Aslan’s Band
- Music of Istanbul at London Rebetiko Carnaval, June 2016
- Sto Cafe Aman at London Rebetiko Carnaval, April 2018
Merit Arianne Stephanos’ Project (Sun & Moon)
- York University Concert, November 2018
- Dartington Summer Music School, July 2019
- York Music Festival, March 2020
- Solo Performance at Royal Asiatic Society, October 2016
- Friday Lunch-time Performances at Ismaili Centre, August 2016
- Solo Performance, Friday Lunch Concerts, at the Royal Albert Hall, October 2017
- Ottoman Art Music Concert at Asia House, March 2017
- Solo Performance at Human Appeal Meeting in Manchester, May 2018
- Istanbul Garanti Jazz Festival with Petros Klampanis, May 2018
- Faith in Tune at the British Museum with Esra Akkaya, March 2019
- Mevlevi Ayini (Whirling Dervish Ceremony) at King’s College London, Feb 2019
- Baha YETKIN Ensemble at Old Divinity School, Cambridge, Feb 2022
Stage works
- Şato Pınar Restaurant, Maltepe, 2005-2013 (periodically)
- Keser Müzikhol, Beylerbeyi, 2006-2007 (while working with Mustafa Keser)
- Many gigs at bars and restaurants in Turkey (more than 2000 events)
- Some corporate organizations and wedding ceremonies (more than 200 events)
- Several Turkish music nights in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Cambridge since 2015
Presentation and Workshops
- Oud Workshop, Aşiyan Music Association, 2007
- Oud Workshop, Aşiyan Music Association, 2009
- Turkish makam music workshop, Kalkedon Flamenko, 2013
- Oud workshop, Net music academy, May 2016
- Ottoman makam music at SOAS, MECAM Forum, November 2016
- Oud workshop, Hackney Cypriot Association, April 2017
- Ottoman music workshop in Madrid, December 2017
- Oud Course at Yunus Emre Institute London, 2016-present
- Ottoman Makam Music Workshop at Cambridge University Jan-Feb 2022
Voluntary Works
- Some concerts in some Sheltered Houses, Istanbul
- Ottoman Music therapy session on special needs at Tuke School, June 2016