Frederick Stubbs
Frederick Stubbs is a founding member of Orkestra Marhaba, Euphony Groove and The Eurasia Ensemble. An ethnomusicologist specializing in the art of taksim (improvisation), he also teaches music at University of Massachusetts-Boston, and at the Lexington Montessori School. Fred is a native New Englander and uses woods like cherry, pine and maple to craft neys, bendirs, tanburs, cellos, basses and various other instruments.
F. Stubbs picture courtesy of X. Lobosco
Diana Traylor
Diana came to the group to work on her improvisational skills. She played oboe (unusual in Turkish classical music) for a year before she reconnected with the violin after nearly 30 years. Diana is also a teacher at the Lexington Montessori School where she uses art and music to encourage learning amongst her students. Apart from being a musician and a teacher, she is a master at creating clay sculptures of Marhaba members. Needless to say, we can only aspire to be as endearing as her clay creations!
D. Traylor picture courtesy of S.Baliga
Tev Stevig
Marhaba's tanbur player, Tev is a specialist in stringed instruments including, guitar, clawhammer style fretless guitar, banjo, cumbus and ukelele. He plays with a variety of Balkan, Greek and modern ensembles in the Boston area and is currently building his own tanbur. In addition to being a 'string theorist', Tev is also an avid surfer and is constantly on the lookout for monster waves to tame. He has also combined music and surfing successfully by composing 'Makam Surfin' for Marhaba. Learn more about Tev at www.tevstevig.com
T. Stevig picture courtesy of S. Baliga
Shanteri Baliga
Referred to as the 'Timekeeper' with reference to keeping usul (rhythm/meter) during rehearsals and performances, Shanteri plays ney, bendir and sings the vocal repertoire that spans secular and sacred. She has been a student of Fred Stubbs since 1995 and has appeared with a variety of groups and musicians such as Flamenco, spoken word, modern dance and fusion. A graduate of Tufts University and the University of Massachusetts Boston, her interest in world music can be credited to having traveled extensively as a child as well as coming from a family that listened to music constantly.
S.Baliga picture courtesy of X. Lobosco
Mike Harrist
Mike is a familiar musician on the Boston music scene playing with gypsy jazz trio Ameranouche as well as his own band Sol & Kiel. Mike is a graduate of Marlboro College in Vermont and has studied with various musicians such as W.A Mathieu, Stan Charkey and James Macdonald and has also studied with religious scholar Amer Latif. In addition to bass, Mike has also begun an exploration into usul (meter), North Indian classical singing and yayli tanbur. Learn more about Mike's adventures at www.michaelharrist.com
M.Harrist picture courtesy of D. Simons
Volkan Efe
Primarily an ud player, Volkan also plays saz, ney, tanbur, kemençe and occasionally lends his voice to the vocal repertoire. Originally from Turkey, his vast knowledge and innate familiarity with this music has been crucial in helping craft our sound by bringing pieces to add to Orkestra Marhaba's repertoire. Volkan also plays with Cambridge Musiki Cemiyeti as well as other Turkish music groups in Boston and makes sure to keep Marhaba rehearsals and concerts well supplied with baklava. Currently Volkan is on a mission to combine his two greatest passions: electrical engineering and music.
V. Efe picture courtesy of A. Efe
Close up of the tuning pegs on a tanbur
Tanbur (or tambur) is a long necked fretted instrument that is considered to be one of the 4 primary instruments in Turkish Art Music. The tanbur here is of the plucked variety: mızraplı, the word mızrap referring to the plectrum. The body is typically made from a variety of wood strips formed along a mold over which is a soundboard that resonates. Frets made from catgut are wrapped at intervals along the long neck and 7 strings run from the tuning pegs down to the bridge on the soundboard. The mızrap for a tanbur is generally made of turtle shell.
Lateral view of a kemençe
Kemençe (or kemenche) literally translates to 'small bow', is a small pear shaped, stringed and bowed musical instrument. Though originating as a folk instrument in the Eastern Mediterranean, it has firmly sealed it's position in Ottoman classical music since the mid 19th century. It is played in an upright position placed on the lap with the strings facing outward. Sound is created by pressing fingernails to each string (similar to the Indian sarangi) and drawing a bow across and tuning pegs are placed on the back of the uppermost top of the instrument. The entire instrument is made from one piece of wood.
Box of assorted neys (cane and wood)
The ney is perhaps most closely associated with sufism, Mevlevi rituals and Rumi, however it also occupies a crucial place in Ottoman music as part of the idea of incesaz (meaning 'thin instrument'). The trio of ney, tanbur and kemençe, with the addition of bendir for rhythm are sometimes all that is necessary to create an orchestral sound.
Neys are typically made from cane, is end blown, with a horn mouthpiece (başpare), one thumb hole and six holes on the other side. They are also crafted in different lengths, from 52 cm to 104 cm, with each length corresponding to a different tuning or pitch called akord. The neys played in Marhaba are made from wood as well as the more traditional cane.
Bendir, Davul
Bendir is a frame drum found throughout Turkey and the Middle East and has many 'drum cousins' in other parts of the world that operate along the same mechanism, which is a skin stretched out over a round wooden frame that resonates when struck. Bendirs are played holding the drum in one hand and striking the face of the drum with the other hand. Though historically bendirs use animal skin, modern examples are often made with a synthetic head. Sometimes, there is a snare running either on the inside or the frame of the drum to create a buzzing noise when played.
A davul is a large barrel drum that has skin on both sides and is struck with mallets on both ends. Davuls are mostly played during folk dances throughout Turkey, the Balkans, Greece and the Mediterranean.
It is important to note the position of usul (meter) in this music. There is a vocabulary and a syntax to meter and every piece has an accompanying meter associated with it.
Soundholes and pattern on Ud
Ud (or oud), a short necked stringed, unfretted lute that is used in Greek, Turkish, Egyptian, Jewish, Mediterranean and other musics, is often considered to be the ancestor of the modern-day guitar. The plucking action is accomplished with a plectrum called mızrap. The mızrap for an ud is typically made of plastic and is thin and softer. Modern day examples fall into either the Arabic variety, which are larger and have a deeper sound, or the Turkish variety which is smaller and tuned one step above the Arabic ud, leading to higher sound. The example above shows the face of an ud with the string courses, and rosettes and was made in Kayseri, Turkey.
Keman
Occupying a more recent place in Ottoman art music, violins were not native instruments of the Turkish Court until European travelers arrived in the early 18th century. Until that time the only bowed instrument was the kemençe. The word ‘keman’ is Persian in origin and was generally used to indicate some sort of bowing action. The arrival of the western violin did not seem to create much of a furore, as the viola d’amore with its’ sympathetic strings was more in fashion. The Turkish name for this viola became sînekemani as it was played held against the chest (sîne meaning 'chest'), as violins are played today.
By the 19th century the western violin increased in usage and today it has become a common and perhaps in some ways essential instrument in traditional Turkish ensembles as well as in folk and dance music.
Bass
The double bass began to appear in the late 16th century in Germany and Italy and is often thought of as a member of the violin family. Typical construction uses spruce for the belly and maple for the ribs, neck and back, though newer experiments may use cedar or pine for the belly and poplar or beech for the rest of the instrument. Bass is not a traditional instrument in Turkish classical music, however Marhaba has found this instrument to be a natural fit for interpreting classical and even folk repertoire. The low range of the instrument makes it possible to walk the line between usul and melody. Bassists may also take cues from the documented history of the cello in makam music and is therefore ripe territory for the contemporary double bassist as it has become more common and popular for players of today to play in the "cello" register of the instrument. Of course bassists may also take inspiration from the bowed instruments that have been central to the tradition: kemençe, rebab, and yaylı tambur.
JP Porchfest, July 13th, 12:45pm, 15 Eliot Street
A fun community event, open to all, in Jamaica Plain, Ma.
'Modal Glimmers'
JP Concerts, April 12th, 8pm, 2019
Works from the Ottoman court tradition, dance forms and songs in the modal tradition, set to varying cycles of percussion.
St. John's Church - 1 Roanoke Ave. Jamaica Plain, MA
$15 General Admission
$10 Students and Seniorsfor tickets: https://www.artful.ly/store/events/16074
King's Chapel, March 19th, 12:15pm, 2019
Orkestra Marhaba Trio makes their debut at one of the most beautiful venues to play music!
Free and open to the public
Monday, November 26th@Passim, 7pm
47 Palmer Street, Cambridgetickets: https://www.passim.org/live-music/events/small-world-big-ears/
In Celebration of Rumi, 2018
On November 4th, Orkestra Marhaba will play during the 19th annual 'In Celebration of Rumi' event with poetry readings set to music followed by a Sema, where dervishes turn to a sung text.
November 4th, 3pm: Friends Meeting House, 5 Longfellow Park, Cambridge, MA
$15 Regular admission
$7 Seniors & Students
Thursday, January 25th, 8pm
Gallery 263, 263 Pearl Street,
Cambridge, MA (doors open at 7:30pm), $10
Thursday, January 25th, 8pm
Gallery 263, 263 Pearl Street,
Cambridge, MA (doors open at 7:30pm), $10
Saturday, August 4th, 2pm
Cary Memorial Library, Lexington MA, free
Thursday, June 21st, 5:30pm
Eustis Estate, Milton, MA, free.
Orkestra Marhaba plays a concert on the longest day of the year!
Wednesday, June 21st@ The Lilypad, 7:30pm
1353 Cambridge Street, Inman Square, Cambridge$10 at the door
Fred Stubbs - ney, bendir, cello
Volkan Efe - oud, kemence, voice
Diana Traylor - violin
Mike Harrist - yayli tanbur
Tev Stevig - tanbur
Shanteri Baliga - ney, bendir, voice
In Celebration of Rumi, 2017
On November 4th and 5th 2017, Orkestra Marhaba will play during the 18th annual 'In Celebration of Rumi' event with poetry readings set to music followed by a Sema, where dervishes turn to a sung text.
November 4th, 7:30pm: Koumantzelis Auditorium, Bentley University, 175 Forest Street, Waltham, MA
November 5th, 3pm: Temple Beth Israel, 25 Harvard Street, Waltham, MA
Tickets can be purchased at the door or through eventbrite.
$15 Regular admission
$7 Seniors & Students
Thursday, November 2nd, 7pm
300 Higgins Hall, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
Orkestra Marhaba plays a free concert showcasing different forms of Turkish music: Classical, sacred, instrumental, vocal and dance
Free and open to the public!
Wednesday March 23rd @ Outpost, 8pm $10
186 1/2 Hampshire Street in Inman Square, CambridgeFred Stubbs - ney
Shanteri Baliga - ney, voice, bendir
Tev Stevig - tanbur, fretless guitar
Volkan Efe - oud, kemence
Diana Traylor - violin
Michael Harrist - contrabass, yayli tanbur
Monday, October 23rd@Passim, 7pm
47 Palmer Street, Cambridgetickets: http://passim.org/club/small-world-big-ears-orkestra-marhaba-atlas-soul
Orkestra Marhaba appears at this intimate and cozy setting at Passim's to play some of our favorite pieces! We share the evening along with 'Atlas Soul'. A wonderful opportunity to listen to some world music with an original flair!
Thursday, April 20th @ The Lilypad, 7:30pm
1353 Cambridge Street, Inman Square, Cambridge$10 at the door
Fred Stubbs - ney, bendir, cello
Volkan Efe - oud, kemence, voice
Diana Traylor - violin
Mike Harrist - yayli tanbur
Tev Stevig - tanbur
Shanteri Baliga - ney, bendir, voice
Orkestra Marhaba joins Ross Daly and Kelly Thoma during their New England Tour!
Thursday April 7th, 2016: MIT Chapel, Cambridge.
Admission by donation
In Celebration of Rumi, 2016
On November 5th and 6th 2016, Orkestra Marhaba will play during the 17th annual 'In Celebration of Rumi' event with poetry readings set to music followed by a Sema, where dervishes turn to a sung text.
November 5th, 7:30pm: Koumantzelis Auditorium, Bentley University, 175 Forest Street, Waltham, MA
November 6th, 3pm: First Unitarian Society, 1326 Washington Street, Newton, MA
Tickets can be purchased at the door or through eventbrite.
$15 Regular admission
$7 Seniors & Students
Wednesday August 24th @ Outpost, 8pm
186 1/2 Hampshire Street in Inman Square, CambridgeFred Stubbs - ney, bendir
Tev Stevig - tanbur, fretless guitar
Volkan Efe - oud, kemence, voice
Diana Traylor - violin
Music of the Middle East (NECSEM Conference): Selections from Orkestra Marhaba, Bella-Musiqa and Miras
Saturday May 7th, 2016: Snowden Auditorium, UMass Boston, 7:30pm
Playing at the late Shahab Ahmed's memorial service at Memorial Church, Harvard University, November 2015
http://beenasarwar.com/2015/11/17/remembering-shahab-ahmed/
Sema: A Ceremony of the Whirling Dervishes
A free concert on March 9th, 2016, 8pm at the Distler Performance Hall, Granoff Music Center.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1555762674715177/
In Celebration of Rumi, 2015
On October 17th and 18th 2015, Orkestra Marhaba will play during the annual 'In Celebration of Rumi' event with poetry readings set to music followed by a Sema, where dervishes turn to a sung text.October 17th, 7:30pm: Koumantzelis Auditorium, Bentley University, 175 Forest Street, Waltham, MAOctober 18th, 3pm: First Unitarian Society, 1326 Washington Street, Newton, MATickets can be purchased at the door or through eventbrite (starting September 17th)$15 Regular admission$7 Seniors & StudentsThis is the 16th year for this event and we look forward to bringing another beautiful piece of ceremonial music to life!
King's Chapel, August 13th, 12:15pm, 2019
'Summer Salutations'
Orkestra Marhaba returns to play at King's Chapel!
Free and open to the public
In Celebration of Rumi, 2019
On November 2nd and 3rd 2019, Orkestra Marhaba will play during the 20th annual 'In Celebration of Rumi' event with poetry readings set to music followed by a Sema, where dervishes turn to a sung text.
November 2nd, 7:30pm: Friends Meeting House, 5 Longfellow Park, Cambridge, MA
November 3rd, 3pm: Temple Beth Israel, 25 Harvard Street, Waltham, MA
Tickets can be purchased at the door or through eventbrite.
$15 Regular admission
$7 Seniors & Students
To register:
Cambridge
Waltham
In Celebration of Rumi, 2020
In Celebration of Rumi-a virtual event!
Orkestra Marhaba and guest musicians will play music with poetry readings set to music followed by a Sema, where dervishes turn to a sung text.
Saturday November 7th, 4:30PM
Tickets can be purchased through eventbrite:
https://rumi20anni.eventbrite.com
Zoom link will be sent to registrants. This is a virtual event.
Celebration of Gratitude, October 16th
Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 138 Tremont Street, Boston, Ma 02111
At the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Saturday October 16th, 4pm
Register here:
http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07eif6u6xz5582d1c8&llr=s4blzzbab
In Celebration of Rumi, 2021
Saturday November 6th, 7:30PM, via Zoom
An evening of music, the whirling of dervishes, and inspiring readings from the work of 13th century Sufi mystic Jalaluddin Rumi.
Tickets can be purchased through eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-celebration-of-rumi-tickets-189380099977
Zoom link will be sent to registrants.In Celebration of Rumi, 2022
An evening of music, the whirling of dervishes, and inspiring readings from the work of 13th century Sufi mystic Jalaluddin Rumi.
Tickets can be purchased through eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-celebration-of-rumi-tickets-189380099977
Zoom link will be sent to registrants.
In Celebration of Rumi, 2023
Saturday, November 4, 2023, 6:30pm
First Church in Cambridge
11 Garden St, Cambridge, MA 02138
An evening of music, the whirling of dervishes, and inspiring readings from the work of 13th century Sufi mystic Jalaluddin Rumi.
Tickets can be purchased through eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-celebration-of-rumi-tickets-738135311587?aff=oddtdtcreator
Free with Optional Donation
LIVESTREAM AVAILABLE ON CMM'S WEBSITE & FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/cmminterfaith
