Osmanoglu, Gevheri (1904—)

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Osmanoglu, Gevheri (1904—)

Turkish composer and player of the oud, tanbur, and lavta. Born in Constantinople (now Istanbul) in 1904.

Born into a musical family in Constantinople (now Istanbul) in 1904, Gevheri Osmanoglu learned to play several instruments from her father. Among these were the oud (a lyre), the tanbur (a guitar-like instrument), and the lavta (an ancient lute). When Turkey was declared a republic, Osmanoglu's family moved to Paris, where she remained for the next 32 years. Though she did not continue her studies of Turkish music until her return to her country, she became very skilled on the tanbur in later life. Osmanoglu wrote a number of compositions, many of them folksongs, and her work is preserved in recordings made by Turkish radio and television.

John Haag , Athens, Georgia

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