Orchestras Gallery

Orhan Avsar Orchestra

Upon his return from Argentina, Orhan Avsar has founded his orchestra with Ertugrul Soysal, and Selcuk Kaskan (Orchestra Tipica.) They started their programs in Istanbul Radio, which was on air recently. They worked until the sudden dead of Orhan Avsar.

At the beginning Orhan Avsar, and his brother Turhan Avsar were on the Bandoneon, Ertugrul Soysal was on akordeon. Their best formation was Stefan Papazyan, Guy De Rasenfos, Melih Ergen (Akordeon), Turkay Tekinson (Viola), Orhan Avsar, Alex Keleci (Piano), and Carli Rahci (Contrabass). Roberto Lorano and Ertan Anapa were the soloists.

When he had difficulties in finding proper voice for the partitions he preferred the clarinet by Onder Bali.

After he died, Istanbul Radio Management broadcasted his recordings for a long time. His orchestra continued to play under the conduction of first Zekai Apaydin, and then Alex Keleci.

The name of the orchestra was changed to Radio Istanbul Orhan Avsar Tango Orchestra.

Engin Ege Orchestra

Istanbul Radio Tango Orchestra that is conducted by Engin Ege has been broadcasting over TRT Radio since years.

Celal Akatlar (Piano), Engin Ege, Edvard Aris, and Engin Ertur at Akordeon, Vedat Evren, Nilgun Lu, Perran Akpinar, Hakan Sensoy at Violin, Firdevs Burckin (Cello), Cevdet Tokusoglu (Clarinet), Metin Irmak (Contrabass), and Tumay Sayar (Drums).

The soloist was Secaattin Tanyerli untill his death in 2001

There are also Argentine Tango and vals in their repertoire.

Orchestra Izcaz

Izcaz Orchestra was founded in 1927 by the students in Lycee de Galatasaray. The students were also scouts. Scouts means "Izci" in Turkish, and jazz means "Caz". They took the first syllables of the two words and named their orchestras.

Their chief and violinist, Mufit Hasan is also the composer of the Tango "Mavi Gozler (Blue Eyes)". The other members were Feridun Baysan, Vedat Ungor, Sadik Hitay, Semih Argeso, Velit Pemehmetoglu, Ferecullah Kent, Mehmet Ali kahyagil, Mukadder Cizel, and Yekta Teksel. The instruments were 2 violas, 3 violoncellos, akordeon, 2 banjos, guitar, piano, and drum.

They signed a contract with Columbia, and they recorded Tangos, too.

In 1933, their activities as well as the other social activities were banned by the new school director, Zilli Tevfik (Ararat). Then after they were not able to come together.

Necdet Koyuturk (1921-1988)

Necdet Koyuturk

Akordeonist, conductor, arranger, and composer. Born on October 28, 1921in Ankara. He is the student of Demirhan Altug in Harmony. He become moreproductive after he worked with Cemal Resit Rey. His two sons, Erdener (1951),and Ozdener (1956) still carries his Tango works.

After 1938, he worked as composer, and his compositions were mainly on Tango. He merged the European forms with the Turkish music theme. He used the original Turkish music harmony, and joined them with the modernmusic and orchestra structures.

He composed his mostly loved Tango "Papatya (Daisy)" during his militaryservice in 1943. The records of this song have been published in Turkey, and England in 1948. This was the first Turkish Composition published inabroad.

He started, with his orchestra, the radio programs in Istanbul Radio after 1949. Since then he was known internationally. In 1957, he played for Marshal Tito, and King of Iraq, Faisal. His radio program lasted 30 years.

His main remains are "Dinle Sevgili (Listen Darling)", "Ruzgar Gibi Gecti (Gone Like the Wind)", "Suphe (Suspect)", "Yillar Var ki (Since Years..)", "Yildizlar Duserken (While the Stars Fall)", "Seven Bilir (Lovers Know)", "Unutmak Istiyorum ( I Want to Forget)", "Basbasa Kalinca (When We Are Alone)".

His compositions were sung by some foreign singers, such as Lili Ivanovaof Bulgaria, and Yaffa Yarkoni from Israel. Necdet Koyuturk has died in 19.October.1988 in Istanbul.

Click here to listen his composition PAPATYA