Poetry and Music: A Gathering in Devotion and Beauty
Hosted by The Kenan Center for Turkish Cultural Studies, this monthly on-campus program blends poetry and music within a space shaped by beauty, reflection, and intercultural resonance. Each gathering invites participants to explore the profound connection between language, sound, and meaning.
Curated by Dr. Arzu Eylül Yalçınkaya, the series showcases diverse poetic voices and traditional musical expressions, offering an experience grounded in both aesthetic richness and the values of the public humanities.
Curated Intercultural Experience
This series highlights intercultural aesthetics and invites audiences to engage with poetry and music as forms of devotion and presence.
Poetic and Musical Fusion
The program features poetic recitations alongside live performances by musicians playing traditional instruments like the ney, ud, and bendir. Themes revolve around sacred imagery and timeless metaphors such as Layla and Majnun or the nightingale and the rose.
Each session presents works by poets from Turkish, Sufi, European, and American traditions—names like Yunus Emre, Rūmī, Rilke, Emily Dickinson, and Walt Whitman. This artistic convergence creates an evocative space for listening, contemplation, and shared cultural memory.
Traditional Musical Instruments
Live performances using the ney, ud, and bendir enhance the poetic atmosphere with spiritual resonance.
Global Poetic Voices
Recitations from diverse traditions create a bridge between cultures and time periods.
Space for Contemplation
Encourages mindful listening and emotional connection through sacred imagery and metaphor.
"Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground." – Rūmī
Event Information
The gathering is open to all, offering a setting where art and spirituality converge. Designed as both an artistic and public humanities event, it welcomes diverse audiences in pursuit of beauty, devotion, and intercultural understanding.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Schedule | Last Saturday of every month at 7:00 PM (6:00 PM during winter) |
| Location | Cambridge, MA |
| Curator | Dr. Arzu Eylül Yalçınkaya |
| Structure | Monthly gatherings with guest speakers and rotating themes |
| Musicians | İstanbul Meshk Topluluğu & Local Music Groups |