Muammer Ketencoğlu et al - Balkan Yolculuğu (The Balkan Journey) (REUPLOAD)

The group, The Balkan Journey, organized by Muammer Ketencoglu in 1993, was created from a broad group of musicians involved in the Seven Colors of the World concert. In 1996 the group began to give concerts. Since that time, different musicians have participated in the group at various periods of time. The group has participated in many activities in various cities, both in Anatolian cities, as well as in Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Germany, and Holland along with the Canadian singer and researcher Brenna MacCrimmon, (who from time to time is a member of the group).

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Muammer Ketencoğlu - (Accordion, Vocals)
Sumru Agiryuruyen - (Vocals, Mandolin)
Aytunc Nevzat Matraci - (Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Trumpet)
Rahmi Göçmen - (Percussion)
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BIOGRAPHIES

MUAMMER KETENCOĞLU:
The Accordion master Ketencoglu is the most famous name about Rebetiko and Balkan music in Turkey. He became a popular musician in the international music arena with his traditional music carreer world wide.

He was born in Izmir in 1964. He received a good music training in schools for the blind. He learned to play the accordion, the piano and the drums.

His first album “Sevdali Kiyilar” was released in 1993. Two Rebetiko compilations prepared by him appeared in 1994 and 1996.

In 1995 he prepared an anthology, Halklardan Ezgiler (Popular Tunes), comprising four albums, each containing folk songs that best represent the traditional music of Armenia, Azarbaijan, Georgia and Central Asian Turkic Republics respectively.

Another anthology compiled by Ketencoglu and produced in 1995 was entitled “Pioneers of the Klezmer Music”. The album brought together examples of Klezmer music based mainly on traditional eastern European Jewish music.

As from 1996 he participated in various activities both in Turkey and abroad with his two ensembles; Kompania Ketencoglu and The Balkan Journey.

In March 2003 he founded “Muammer Ketencoglu and His Zeybek Ensemble” by adding new repertory and musicians to Kompania Ketencoglu .

Ketencoglu made his second personal album “Karanfilin Moruna” which is composed of West Anatolian zeybek songs and melodies in April 2001. The album named “Ayde Mori” which he made with The Balkan Journey ensemble was released in September 2001. This album contains folk songs and tunes from all over the Balkans.

He wrote many articles on traditional music from all over the world which were published in many different newspapers and magazines.

From November 1995 on he is the producer and announcer of the program "From This Side of Danube" mainly focusing on Balkan music, which is broadcasted every week by the Acik Radyo 94.9 in Istanbul.

SUMRU AĞIRYÜRÜYEN:
was born in Ankara in 1959. She completed the Sociology Department of Bogazici University's Management Faculty. During her university years, she was interested and involved in theater, theater music and especially choral music. She was engaged in publishing (as a translator, writer, editor and TV script writer), while at the same time was involved in music. She studied singing, harmony, and solfege. She participated with a vocal group within the structure of the Istanbul Gelisim (Development)Orchestra and participated in a large number of professional performances and recordings.

In 1983, she, along with a number of artists, set up the Mosaic group. After leaving the group in 1985, she performed music with duos and trios in various venues. She participated in concerts and performances. Singing and playing mandolin, she took part in the albums of many groups and artists, such as Yeni Turku, Bulutsuzluk Ozlemi (Longing for Cloudlessness), Ezginin Gunlugu (Diary of the Melody), Mehmet Gureli, Sertab Erener, Kumdan Kaleler (Sand Castles), etc.).

She has been giving concerts along with Muammer Ketencoğlu since 1993. Beginning in the context of the Seven Colors of the World concerts, over time she turned her attention to the development of duo repertoire. She was involved especially in the development of repertoire consisting of Balkan songs as well as the songs of Greek composer Manos Hadjidakis. The duo, carrying out many domestic and foreign concerts with the participation of Brenna MacCrimmon, accompanied Penka Parlova at concerts in Bulgaria.

Sumru Agiryuruyen who includes includes folk songs in various languages, theatre, protest, rock and jazz in her repertoire, has tended to search out different sounds. In this context, she sings and plays mandolin in the group Necropsi and the Serdar Ateser Group.

AYTUNÇ NEVZAT MATRACI:
the youngest child in a family that migrated from Macedonia in 1957, was born in Manisa in 1963. He was introduced to music in middle school through the medium of block flute. He took his first professional step when he played davul and zurna for friends leaving for the army. He added to his experience playin g clarinet in the Göçmen Band which he established in his neighborhood. He started to play in the Izmir Municipality Band in 1985. He has made CD and cassette sound recordings of Turkish and Macedonian folk songs.

RAHMİ GÖÇMEN:
was born in Susurluk in 1975. As a child he began playing music with his relatives at weddings. In 1993, he settled in Istanbul. He began playing in studio recordings, where he developed a special reputation in a short time with his performance of percussion playing. Today, while accompanying various artists in concerts at home and abroad, he has been an indispensable member of the group A Balkan Journey

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Tracklist:
01 - Bodrcano
02 - O n’atë fushë t’mejdanit
03 - Halk oyunu
04 - Bolen mi leji mlad Stoyan
05 - Vjelka
06 - Bacanak
07 - Barba Postoli
08 - Gitme Hamdim
09 - Nihavent taksim
10 - Nje mend qenke si si më kanë thanë
11 - Veleşkite ergeni
12 - Çereşko çorna vişniçko
13 - Mana mu i agapi mu
14 - A- Bahçalarda biberiye B- Bukovsko oro
15 - Rajko
16 - O postari avela
17 - Valle dasme Tiranase
18 - Yunaçe ludo i mlado
19 - Uşşak taksim