Female musicians from Izmir adapted classical Turkish music to the present day.

A women’s music group named Ervah-ı Zenan, who came together in Izmir, adapted classical Turkish music to the present day, attracting the interest of young people and reaching thousands. Women musicians in Izmir are expecting support to reach wider audiences with the new generation of classical Turkish music.

Coming together in Izmir, women who are passionate about music established a music group under the name of Ervah-ı Zenan, meaning ‘women’s spirits’. Women, who have been working for 1.5 years, brought classical Turkish music together with the new generation. By attracting the interest of young people in this way, women set an example to everyone. The majority of the women, who are mostly conservatory graduates, play musical instruments such as violin, oud, kanun, ney, and tanbur skillfully, captivating the audience.

One of Turkey’s few, and Izmir’s only women’s music group, started organizing concerts by not turning down incoming requests. The concerts adapted to the present day especially attracted the interest of young people.

‘We set out with the belief that everything touched by a woman’s hand or soul becomes more beautiful’

Group member Emine Başateş stated that the majority of women in the group are conservatory graduates. Başateş expressed that they have organized two concerts, saying, ‘Our recent concert was very successful and received a lot of attention. We can’t say it’s Turkish music because we walk with different concepts. What we actually do is classical Turkish music, but under the name of Turkish music, we try to include different forms, different concepts. Ervah-ı Zenan means women’s spirits. We set out with the belief that everything touched by a woman’s hand or soul becomes more beautiful. It added a different delicacy, a different refinement.’

‘I try to adapt the kanun to both the past and the present’

The youngest member of the group is Selin Çayhan. Playing the kanun, Çayhan stated that she has been involved in music since a young age. Selin Çayhan, who expressed that classical Turkish music gradually caught her interest, said, ‘I was born and raised in a family of musicians. My father is involved in music. Until I got involved, I didn’t know the delicacy and refinement of Turkish music this closely. To set an example for the youth a bit more, I try to adapt the kanun as a slightly more modern instrument to both the past and the present.’

‘As a women’s group, we are in great need of support’

Selin Çayhan, who stated that they are expecting support to reach wider audiences, said, ‘When we want to organize a concert or invite a guest artist, our group covers these expenses such as the guest artist’s travel expenses, plane ticket, accommodation, food, and drinks with our own efforts. This creates a great burden for us. As a women’s group, we are in great need of support. If we receive support, we believe that we will be able to reach larger audiences with the music we are trying to perform.’ Safiye Çayhan, who expressed that Turkish music dates back to ancient times and society is gradually moving away, also said:

‘We will continue in different concepts that can attract the interest of young people more. Since our Turkish music dates back to ancient times, it is not a music style that attracts the interest of young people very much. It is also a society that is gradually moving away. As a young group, our goal is to bring our Turkish music closer to them and present it to them by combining it with the modernized form of this era.’