Updated July 17, 2010

The 2010 Tangents Turkey Music Tour is October 10-26. We had a terrific week as four joined increasing our intimate group to eleven. Only four spots are left as fifteen is maximum.

There is nothing like traveling to an exotic culture and experiencing its music. The Tangents Turkey Music Tour has evolved into an extraordinary music/cultural adventure that includes 10 concerts in 16 nights. The artists are always among Turkey's finest and the music spans a wide range:

Roma (Gypsy) ◊ Sufi ◊ Anatolian jazz ◊  Anatolian folk ◊ Tangential Turkish fusion ◊ Ottoman classical

The concerts take place in various settings. The venues include living room like concerts, clubs resembling the Great American Music Hall, formal settings similar to Davies Symphony Hall, a percussion clinic at Okay Temiz's studio, and a wondrous cave concert in Cappadocia. We have personal interaction with the artists whether dining with them or meeting before or after the concerts.

Likely participants include one of last year's favorites, versatile singer Sumru Ağıryürüyen,  who we enjoyed dinner with during the 2009 tour along with Anatolian jazz guitarist Cenk Erdogan. Dinner was at my favorite Istanbul restaurant Çiya, which is located on the Asian side. The May 1st New Yorker magazine has a beautiful audio slide show that discribes the unique culinary qualities of Çiya.

Other music concerts/activities include a fun workshop/clinic with cross-cultural percussion legend Okay Temiz, and a club concert featuring Turkey's top Roma/Gypsy clarinetist Selim Sesler who starred in Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul. The itinerary will be similar to the 2009 tour featuring three hubs: Istanbul, Cappadocia and Sirince (near the Aegean and Ephesus). Check out testimonials from last year and previous Tangents Turkey Music Tours.

There is a photo album featuring shots from the 2005-2009 tours on Facebook. Search for Tangents Radio and become a fan.

A high profile endorsement recently arrived from top world music magazine Songlines . Its editor is Simon Broughton who is also co-editor of the Rough Guide to World Music and a noted documentary filmmaker.

This is what Simon posted on the Songlines website about the Tangents Turkey Music Tour:

"There are few countries as spectacular as Turkey for history and hospitality, for landscapes and food, and for magnificent music. We've been wanting to develop a Turkish music trip for a while but, to be honest, it would be pretty hard to beat the itinerary that Dore Stein has put together for Tangents."

"Rather than set-up a Songlines Music Travel trip in competition, I think it's better to recommend a top-quality alternative. I've known Dore for several years, we've discussed Turkish music and he's refined this trip over five years building-up relationships with many of the best musicians like clarinettist Selim Sesler, Alevi singer Sabahat Akkiraz and instrument inventor and percussionist Okay Temiz..."

Click to read more...

Below are three more noteworthy media links: (all live links)

Article in Istanbul's most prominent newspaper, The Hurriyet Daily News

Interview in Timeout Istanbul, Istanbul's widest read English only entertainment guide

Profile by Tom Brosnahan, Turkey's dean of travel writers + curator of Turkeytravelplanner.com

2010 Tangents Turkey Music Tour CD Sampler is yours for the asking

Tour information is linked near the top and bottom of this page including  testimonial and itinerary pages, along with philosophy, accommodation and fine print.

In order to entice couples/friends to join the tour, there is a twosome discount that saves $400 off the $4285 single price. Cost for couples is $8170 instead of $8570. This offer has been extended until the minimum seven group size is reached.

For the first time a few spots have been set aside for folks who may prefer a slice of the tour. You  can carve it as you like. The standard slice is the Istanbul part which comprises 9 of the 10 concerts. This portion totals 9 or 10 nights (out of 16) and costs $3000. This move was prompted by several folks who have gone on previous Tangents Turkey Music Tours who asked if they can return for the Istanbul concerts.  The music itinerary is that special and so is Istanbul. The Istanbul dates are the first 5 nights and the last 5 nights of the tour.

Make payment or reserve a spot with a $500 non-refundable* deposit  made out to "Tangents Radio" (checks or bank transfers only)

send to:

Dore Stein/Tangents Turkey Music Tour
301 Gambier St.
SF CA 94134

*All payments are fully refundable if dates change or tour is cancelled. Deposit reserves a space but only full payment locks in discounted rate.

There are many factors that combine for a terrific experience. Among the most important are group camaraderie, concerts and the Turkish people. The term "Turkish hospitality" was coined for a reason. No matter how much this is emphasized prior to our trip, the experience of meeting such a warm people deeply touches folks on the Tangents tour.

Folks who have joined these tours have had transformative experiences. Check testimonial links at the Turkey and Maroc sections at tangents.com.

I'll leave you with one from Alexandra Ivanhoff:
 
excerpt:

"This tour changed my life, and it was completely unexpected. The Tangents Tour was a great group of witty, smart, and cultured people whom I still miss seeing every day. Together we heard fantastic music, enjoyed some of the best food on the planet, and saw a country whose history is a multi-layered tapestry of civilizations. And as a
result of the tour, I made many friends and professional connections in Turkey that will allow me to pursue my future life there—and my original plan was to live in Paris! That's how good it was."
 
Grassroots word of mouth is the best form of promotion. If you know someone who may be interested, pass the word.

I'll leave it to Mark Twain to get in the last word:

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness."

peace through travel and music,

Dore