Devr-i Makam
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Devr-i Makam is a live performance project that bridges makam music with psychedelic and meditative electronic textures. Drawing inspiration from the 12th-century understanding of makam and cosmology (devirs / cycles), the group blends traditional makams with contemporary sounds.
On stage, the group features vocals, oud, fretless guitar, and synthesizers. This setup integrates live improvisations, looped arrangements, and innovative rhythms to create a dynamic space under the umbrella of electronic music.
Ranging across makam progressions from Uşşak to Saba, and Kürdilihicazkâr to Hüseyni, their sound is elevated by unique sound design and electronic layering. Among the project’s standout works, "Motif" explores the heritage of Turkish motifs, while "Seven Doors" reflects the seven-stage spiritual maturation process in Yunus Emre's philosophy.
Wandering freely through electronic spaces while keeping its focus firmly rooted in the core of makam, Devr-i Makam offers an innovative stage experience.
Ahmet Polat is an oud player, composer, and educator. Having received formal training in Classical Turkish Music and served in the Ministry of National Education Turkish Music Choir for five years, Polat has contributed to the development of many successful musicians by providing conservatory preparation in Turkish music theory, oud, piano, solfège, and vocal technique.
In addition to his career as an educator, Polat continues to perform live, earning a distinguished audience through stage performances that reflect the aesthetic nuances of makam music. Crowning his performance career with composition, the artist crafts original pieces characterized by Romantic-era sensibilities and shares these works across digital platforms.
He approaches music both as a technical compositional discipline and a medium for emotional expression. Through platforms where he shares the mathematical and theoretical framework of songwriting, he inspires and guides the creation of new compositions alongside his own. Blending the classical repertoire and his signature performance style with traditional inspiration, Polat continues his musical journey through a multifaceted approach.
Deniz Atalay is an electroacoustic music composer and marbling artist. Holding master’s degrees in Traditional Turkish Music and Sonic Arts, Atalay served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Composers, Conductors, and Musicologists (BESOM) for six years. Having released albums across diverse genres, Atalay continues his academic research as an independent scholar.
Bringing auditory and visual disciplines together, he composes music for art galleries and installations. By merging the flow of form and color in marbling (ebru) with sound design, the composer creates an interdisciplinary, audiovisual creative space and has performed internationally, notably in Poland and Italy.
He approaches music from two fundamental perspectives: Sound and Cultural Context. Perceiving music as pure "sound" provides infinite freedom in his creative process, while viewing it through a cultural lens allows him to infuse his works with the richness of millennia of human heritage. This broad spectrum in his output feeds the diversity of his albums while preserving the unpredictable, element-of-surprise nature of his future music.
Connect
We invite you to explore makam music through electronic textures. For live performances or collaborations, feel free to contact us.
ataden@gmail.com
+90 555 983 01 99
Makam District, Ankara