Erkan Oğur (Ankara, 1954) is an internationally acclaimed musician and composer, a pioneer of fretless guitar who invented the first fretless guitar in 1976. As a composer he has influenced many musicians through his compositions combining the sounds of Turkish folk music and classical music with ancient traditional music. Regarded as a master of “kopuz” and “bağlama” lutes, he has performed all over the world.
Erkan Oğur was first introduced to the music of Anatolia at the age of five while growing up in Elazığ in eastern Turkey. During high school years, he heard Jimi Hendrix’s guitar on the radio, which led him to pick up the guitar. While studying physics at the University of Munich, music became his true preoccupation. He worked in developing both his electric and guitar playing techniques and utilizing these to blend with Turkish makams and forms. In 1980, Oğur decided to become a full-time musician and returned to Turkey. Between 1980-1984 he studied music at the State Conservatory in Istanbul, and later became an instructor. Over the years, he became a sought-after musician, playing with many eminent Turkish and international musicians in a wide range of musical genres, including Fikret Kızılok, Bülent Ortaçgil, Fahir Atakoğlu, and jazz musician Philippe Caterine.
Although he had previously performed in various countries including United States, Erkan Oğur found significant international acknowledgment in 1996 after his soundtrack for the blockbuster film “Eşkiya” (The Bandit), which told a story of an-old time bandit from Eastern Anatolia, became a big success. Since 1998 he has been bringing new interpretations to Turkish traditional music, while remaining true to its essence and forms. In addition to his recordings with İsmail Hakkı Demircioğlu (Anadolu Beşik / Anatolia the Cradle, Gülün Kokusu Vardı / Rose Had Fragrance), he made several albums; in Hiç / Nothing, he interpreted music from both classical and folk domains with musicians Okan Murat Öztürk and Derya Türkan, and in Fuad with Armenian “düdük” master Djivan Gasparyan.
İsmail Hakkı Demircioğlu (Pazar/Rize, 1957), grew up in the Black Sea coast of Turkey. He later moved to Istanbul to study music at the State Conservatory. After graduating in 1984, he continued to play traditional instruments such as “saz” while also playing modern instruments including bass guitar. He played in Ruhi Ayangil Turkish Music Orchestra, later joining the prestigious Ruhi Su Chorus, led by folk musician Ruhi Su. His collaboration with Erkan Oğur started in 1988 and they have been performing in concerts in Turkey and abroad since then. Oğur and Demircioğlu together released two albums; Anadolu Beşik /Anatolia the Cradle and Gülün Kokusu Vardı / Rose Had Fragrance. Demircioğlu also released a solo album, Nasip Olsa, in 2004. |
