Hardi Kurda is a composer, improviser, sound artist from Kurdistan who researches the concept of 'urgent listening': becoming aware of sounds that are always present but mostly ignored, even to the point of trying to listen to smells or silence. In this podcast, he invites the audience to practice this kind of listening, with an extended composition specially made for this podcast, using his extensive catalogue of field recordings. Kurda is also jury member for the Gaudeamus Award 2026.
Watch an interview with Kardi Kurda by Jonás Bisquert about his podcast: https://youtu.be/cdNWMXgIBGU
All content for Gaudeamus | Podcast Curious Ears is the property of Gaudeamus | Podcast Curious Ears and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Hardi Kurda is a composer, improviser, sound artist from Kurdistan who researches the concept of 'urgent listening': becoming aware of sounds that are always present but mostly ignored, even to the point of trying to listen to smells or silence. In this podcast, he invites the audience to practice this kind of listening, with an extended composition specially made for this podcast, using his extensive catalogue of field recordings. Kurda is also jury member for the Gaudeamus Award 2026.
Watch an interview with Kardi Kurda by Jonás Bisquert about his podcast: https://youtu.be/cdNWMXgIBGU
Emine Bostancı + Ardashes Agoshian: Kemenche of Istanbul, Cretan Lyra and Contemporary Music
Gaudeamus | Podcast Curious Ears
43 minutes 39 seconds
1 year ago
Emine Bostancı + Ardashes Agoshian: Kemenche of Istanbul, Cretan Lyra and Contemporary Music
Emine Bostancı and Ardashes Agoshian talk about contemporary music and traditional instruments: Kemenche of Istanbul and Cretan Lyra with sympathetic strings.
Emine Bostancı (Turkey/ Netherlands) is on a mission: performing on traditional instruments, she aims to push the boundaries and bridge the gap between traditional Ottoman-Turkish and contemporary classical music.
In this episode, she introduces her instruments, summarises their historical and traditional context, and speaks about her doctoral research and artistic practices and projects. Her guest, composer Ardashes Agoshian, highlights the intrigue and opportunities for composers in writing new music for traditional instruments.
Full playlist of music:
00:00-04:39
Ardashes Agoshian:
Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales" for septet, III. mov.,
"Kız Kulesi" (Maiden's Tower)
04:40-06:20
Emine Bostancı
Solo kemenche improvisation
06:36-07:24
Ardashes Agoshian:
"Ancient Istanbul Tales", IV. mov., Final of the Interlude, " The Afternoon at the Grand Bazaar"
07:25-11:05
Ardashes Agoshian:
Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales", V. mov., "Khalkedon"
(The ancient name of the decent neighbourhood of Istanbul, now known as Kadıköy, which is thought to be the place where Byzantium was first founded)
11:06-14:13
Emine Bostancı
"Ghost Secrets" (Dareyn)
14:25-15:56
Ardashes Agoshian:
Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales", VI. mov.,
"Constantine's dream"
16:13-23:42
Ardashes Agoshian:
Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales", VII. mov.,
"Beyazıt'ta Panayır" (Fair in Beyazıt)
24:04-26:44
Ardashes Agoshian:
Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales", I. mov., "Hagia Sophia"
26:52-30:53
Ardashes Agoshian:
Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales", II. mov., "Samatya"
(The ancient name of the decent neighbourhood of Istanbul. The name is still unofficial using by the residents. Agoshian's birthplace.)
30:54-32:36
Ardashes Agoshian:
Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales", III. mov.,
"Kız Kulesi" (Maiden's Tower)
32:38-33:32
Ardashes Agoshian:
Fragment from "Contact" for classical kemenche/Cretan Lyra and double bass, IV. mov,
"The Ambassadors",
(After the painting of H. Holbein)
33:40-34:28
Ardashes Agoshian:
Fragment from "Contact", V. mov,
"Tea'n Coffee"
34:33-35:27
Ardashes Agoshian:
Improvisation from "Contact",
35:33-37:16
Ardashes Agoshian:
Fragment from "Contact", VII. mov,
"Silk Road"
37:23-38:13
Ardashes Agoshian,
Fragment from "Contact", IX. mov,
"Orient Express 1883"
38:20-38:47
Ardashes Agoshian:
"Ancient Istanbul Tales", IV. mov., Final of the Interlude, " The Afternoon at the Grand Bazaar"
38:50-39:59
Ardashes Agoshian:
Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales", I. mov., "Hagia Sophia"
40:06-41:12
Ardashes Agoshian:
Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales", VII. mov.,
"Beyazıt'ta Panayır" (Fair in Beyazıt)
41:16-42:06
Ardashes Agoshian:
Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales", VI. mov.,
"Constantine's dream"
42:15-43:22
Ardashes Agoshian:
Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales", VII. mov.,
"Beyazıt'ta Panayır" (Fair in Beyazıt)
43:30-44:44
Ardashes Agoshian:
Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales" for septet, III. mov.,
"Kız Kulesi" (Maiden's Tower)
Gaudeamus | Podcast Curious Ears
Hardi Kurda is a composer, improviser, sound artist from Kurdistan who researches the concept of 'urgent listening': becoming aware of sounds that are always present but mostly ignored, even to the point of trying to listen to smells or silence. In this podcast, he invites the audience to practice this kind of listening, with an extended composition specially made for this podcast, using his extensive catalogue of field recordings. Kurda is also jury member for the Gaudeamus Award 2026.
Watch an interview with Kardi Kurda by Jonás Bisquert about his podcast: https://youtu.be/cdNWMXgIBGU