COMPOSERS AND PERFORMERS

HASAN FERİT ALNAR

Hasan Ferit Alnar was born in 1906, and began composing at the age of sixteen. He studied harmony and Turkish music with Saadettin Arel. From 1917-1932, he studied at the Vienna Conservatory, from which he received his diploma in orchestral conducting and composition. In 1926 he composed ten saz semâisi, and went on in 1927 to compose two peþrevs, one semâisi and several taksims for kanun. Beginning in 1930, he wrote several pieces in western style using Turkish makams. These included the Turkish suite for orchestra (1930), Five Dance Pieces for piano (1932), Quartet for Strings (1933), Six Pieces (dedicated to Arel; 1935), Cello Concerto (1943), and his most famous piece, the Kanun Concerto (1951). He died in 1978.