Ulvi Cemal Erkin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ulvi Cemal Erkin
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| Born | March 14, 1906 |
| Died | September 15, 1972 (aged 66) |
| Nationality | Turkish |
| Occupation | Musician |
Ulvi Cemal Erkin (born March 14, 1906 – died September 15, 1972) was a very important composer from Turkey. He was part of a special group called The Turkish Five. These composers helped shape music in the new Turkish Republic. They were known for mixing traditional Turkish folk music with Western symphonic styles.
Contents
A Young Musician's Life
Ulvi Cemal Erkin's mom was a pianist, and she noticed his talent for music when he was very young. His dad worked for the government and sadly passed away when Ulvi Cemal was seven. He had two older brothers. After his father's death, his family moved in with his grandfather, who was also an important official and a smart person.
Early Music Lessons
Ulvi Cemal started learning piano from French and Italian teachers in Istanbul. He went to Galatasaray High School, where he also kept working hard on his music. He used every chance he had to get better as a musician.
Studying Music in Paris
When Ulvi Cemal was 19, the new Turkish Republic wanted to modernize everything, including music. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of Turkey, really wanted to see music grow. So, the government gave scholarships to talented young students to study in Europe.
In 1925, Ulvi Cemal Erkin won a scholarship from the Ministry of Education to study music in Paris. He studied at famous schools like the Paris Conservatory and the Ecole Normale de Musique. He learned piano and composition from well-known teachers like Isidor Philipp and Nadia Boulanger.
Returning to Turkey and Teaching
After finishing his studies, Ulvi Cemal returned to Turkey in 1930. He started teaching at the Musiki Muallim Mektebi (School of Musical Education). There, he met Ferhunde Erkin, who was also a talented pianist and a teacher at the school. They got married in 1932.
Ferhunde became a huge inspiration for him and often performed his music. Together, they worked hard to encourage and train young musicians. They also helped more people in Anatolia enjoy polyphonic music (music with many different melodies playing at the same time).
Famous Works and Performances
In 1943, Ulvi Cemal Erkin won a big prize for his Piano Concerto. A concerto is a piece of music for a solo instrument (like a piano) and an orchestra. The same year, he wrote a famous orchestral piece called Köçekçe.
Both the Piano Concerto and the Köçekçe suite were first performed by the Presidential Symphony Orchestra in Ankara in 1943. His wife, Ferhunde Erkin, was the piano soloist for the concerto. His Piano Concerto was even performed in Berlin, Germany, by the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra!
Ulvi Cemal Erkin continued to compose music throughout his life. He also taught music, played the piano, and even conducted orchestras. He wrote a piece called "Sinfonietta" to help musicians learn the special rhythms and styles of Turkish music. His works were performed and broadcast often outside of Turkey. He even conducted his own music with famous orchestras in other countries.
Later Life and Legacy
Ulvi Cemal Erkin passed away on September 15, 1972, at the age of 66. He is buried in the Karşıyaka Cemetery in Ankara.
Awards and Recognition
Ulvi Cemal Erkin received many awards for his contributions to music:
- He was given the Palm Académique and the Légion d'honneur from France.
- He received the Italian Republic Medal.
- In 1971, the Turkish government gave him the title of State Artist, which is a very high honor for artists.
- After he passed away, he was given a special medal of honor by the Sevda-Cenap And Music Foundation in 1991.
- In 1985, the Turkish postal service even issued a postage stamp with his picture on it!
In 2010, the Municipality of Çankaya in Ankara decided to build a large concert hall and name it after him: the Ulvi Cemal Erkin Concert Hall.
Important Musical Works
Ulvi Cemal Erkin composed many different types of music. Here are some of his notable works:
- Two Dances (1930): An orchestral piece.
- Concertino (1932): A short concerto for piano and orchestra.
- Five Drops (1931): Pieces for solo piano.
- Bayram (1934): An orchestral piece.
- String Quartet (1935–1936): Music for four string instruments.
- "Sensations" (1937): A collection of 11 piano pieces.
- Six Folk Songs (1936): Songs for voice and piano, later arranged for orchestra.
- Piano Concerto (1942): A major work for piano and orchestra, dedicated to his wife Ferhunde Erkin.
- Köçekçe, dance rhapsody for orchestra (1943): A lively orchestral piece inspired by Turkish dance.
- Six Folk Songs for mixed chorus (1945): Arrangements of folk songs for a choir.
- Quintet with Piano (1946): For piano and four string instruments.
- Sonata (1946): A piece for solo piano.
- Symphony No. 1 (1946): His first symphony for orchestra.
- Violin concerto (1946–1947): A concerto for violin and orchestra.
- Symphony No. 2 (1958): His second symphony.
- Keloğlan ballet music (1958): Music for a ballet.
- Sinfonietta (1951–1959): A piece for string orchestra.
- Ten folk songs arranged for mixed chorus (1963): More folk song arrangements for choir.
- Six preludes for piano (1965–1967): Short piano pieces.
- Symphony Concertante, for piano and orchestra (1965–1966): Another work for piano and orchestra.
See also
- The Turkish Five
- Feridun Cemal Erkin
