Mercan Dede - Composer

Mercan Dede (aka. Arkin Allen or DJ Arkin) is a world famous Turkish/Canadian composer, producer, vocalist, DJ, and ney, syrinx, drum and bendir player. His music can be described as techno, fusion/new age, mainly embedded with sufi elements. He was born in Bursa in 1966. He had music lessons from the masters of traditional Sufi music.

Following his studies in Istanbul, Mercan moved to Canada in 1997 and began teaching art of Marbling (Ebru) at Concordia University. He completed undergraduate and postgraduate education in Canada. Since then he has traveled in Europe, Canada, USA and Turkey with various Sufi ensembles. He also worked on world music with Professor David Kaplan at the University of Saskatchewan. He now spends much of his time between Montreal and Istanbul.

Mercan Dede combines the Eastern spiritual traditions of Sufi music with contemporary sounds and creates a unique mix of old and new,  East and West. Dede, an adherent of Sufi spirituality, brings his holistic understanding of sound, the rhythms of nature and of the universe to his interpretations of Sufi maqams, as well as to his original compositions.

His music career began with a Mercan-made plastic plumbing pipe. With his worldwide projects Mercan Dede is, no doubt, one of the most  remarkable and influential artists of Turkey.



Also See:

Atatürk	Alexandre Vallaury - Architect
Ara Guler - Photographer	Balyan Family - Architect
Burhan Doğançay - Painter	Evliya Çelebi - Traveler
Fazıl Say - Pianist/Composer	Fikret Mualla - Painter
Güher & Süher Pekinel-Pianist	Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi - Scientist
Karagöz and Hacivat	Mercan Dede - Composer
Mevlana	Mimar Sinan - Architect
Nazım Hikmet - Poet	Orhan Pamuk - Writer
Osman Hamdi Bey - Museologist	Sabiha Gökçen - Combat pilot
Sakıp Sabancı - Businessman	Sezen Aksu - Musician
Vehbi Koç - Businessman	Yasar Kemal - Writer
Kirkpinar Oil-Wrestling	Turkish Coffee
Traditions & Habits	Religious Colors
Islam in Turkey	Istanbul's Holy Places
Ankara's Holy Places	Famous Personalities
Legendary bazaars	Turkish Cuisine
Special Tastes	Hubble-bubble (Nargile)
Rakı and Meyhane	Hamam - Turkish Bath
Luck Games	A Little Turkish Fun

Would you like to add your comment about this article? Click here!

---

Editor's Picks

Antalya Antalya, one of the most breath-taking places of Turkey, because of its spectacular location... more...

Traveling by Bus Every corner of Turkey can be reached from the bus station, or Otogar as it is called here. more...

Best of windsurf spots Recently the number of beaches providing windsurfing facilities has increased and shores are embellished with colorful surf.. more...

Anatolian Civilizations Museum The museum is located southeast of Ankara Citadel and is composed of two Ottoman Buildings. more...

Trattoria da Rosario Trattoria da Rosario is a small but special Italian restaurant hidden amongst the trees in Koşuyolu, Kadıköy. more...

Hamams in Ankara Would you like to take a bath in Karacabey Hamam of 15th century or Şengül Hamam of 18th century? more...

---

Latest Articles

Documentarist 2012
International Izmir Festival
International Improv Festival
The Guide Istanbul May/June
Akbank Sanat Guitar Days
Flying Broom Festival
Istanbul Jazz Festival
Antalya Sand Sculpture Festival
Goya: Witness of His Time
Istanbul Theater Festival

---