The Yunus Emre Institute, the country's main cultural promotion agency abroad, and its local arm in the Austrian capital of Vienna organized a memorial concert Friday for Turkish composer Hasan Ferid Alnar, who spent his formative years in the city.

The concert held at the Grand Hotel's Ball Room was attended by Yunus Emre Institute President Prof. Şeref Ateş, the head of the local office of the agency, Ayşe Yorulmaz and Turkey's Ambassador to Austria Mehmed Ferden Çarıkçı.Guests listened to Hasan Ferid Alnar's Concerto with Kanun and Strings.

Ateş, speaking to Anadolu Agency before the concert highlighted the important historical and cultural ties between the two countries, adding that, as an agency, they wanted to establish a special link with guest countries. "In this respect, the Turkish people have many grounds to establish special ties."

Alnar, born on March 11, 1906 in Istanbul, was taught kanun, or qanun, at an early age by master Kanuni Vitali Efendi. Kanun, a string instrument widely played in the Balkans and across the Middle East, is recognized as a particularly difficult instrument to master. Alnar was mentioned as one of the best at 12 years old. He composed his first piece "Butterfly Officer" at 16. He was then invited to join the Dar'ütta'lim-i Musiki Heyeti, one of the most important bands of the time.

He went to Vienna in 1927 to further his education and was taught composing and conducting by Joseph Marx and Oswald Kabasta before returning home in 1932. In 1936, he started working as deputy conductor for the Presidential Philharmonic Orchestra, which later became the Presidential Symphonic Orchestra. He served as the chief conductor of the orchestra between 1946 and 1952. He taught at the Ankara State Conservatory and served as guest conductors at the Vienna Symphonic Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, Stuttgart Radio, Athens Symphonic Orchestra and Sofia Symphonic Orchestra.

Among his compositions is the Concerto for Kanun and Strings, and he is also known for his film scores. He is one of the Turkish Five's five composers who were trained in Western classical music in the early decades of the Republic and synthesized it with Turkish classical music.

Yunus Emre Institute Vienna Office Chairperson Ayşe Yorulmaz, speaking to Daily Sabah, said the institute would be holding future events at larger venues because the Ball Room had been barely enough for the more than 300 guests who arrived for the concert. Approximately 60 percent of the guests were Austrians, she said, adding that among them were musicologists and other music experts from Vienna and other Austrian cities. Kanun, especially, attracted significant interest from experts, she added.

Ambassador Çarıkçı said the first military band established by Freiherr von der Trenck in Austria in 1741 was inspired by the Ottoman Marching Band and the Austrian band was famous for playing Turkish music. Amadeus Mozart's "The Abduction from the Seraglio" and "The Turkish March" were just the most famous of the results of interactions between Austrian and Turkish cultures. He also highlighted the importance of Turkish expats living in Vienna and Austria knowing about Alnar.

During the memorial concert, Alnar's Concerto for Kanun and Strings and 10 Saz piece were played.

It was Prof. Ruhi Ayangil, a student of Alnar, who played the kanun in the concert.

YUNUS EMRE INSTITUTE IN VIENNA

Yorulmaz, expanding on the event, said the Yunus Emre Institute played a dual role in Vienna. One was to teach the Turkish language through courses and the other was to teach Turkish culture through such events. Previous events included Ottoman Calligraphy Exhibition and a lecture by renowned historian Prof. İlber Ortaylı, who presented in both Turkish and German.

At a time when Austrian-Turkish political ties are at a historic low, it is important to highlight the many positive cultural and social interactions between the two peoples, she said. Future events planned include concerts of music by Mozart and Bach to articulate this interaction, she said.

The Yunus Emre Institute also played an important role in teaching local Turks about the Turkish culture, she noted.