Performed by WindSync and Erberk Eryılmaz
Garrett Hudson, flute
Emily Tsai, oboe
Elias Rodriguez, clarinet
Anni Hochhalter, french horn
Kara LaMoure, bassoon
Erberk Eryılmaz, davul
“Rakı Havası for Woodwind Quintet and Optional Davul was commissioned by WindSync in 2019. The work is inspired by the celebratory drinking tunes and dances of the northwest region of Turkey. Rakı is Turkey's national alcoholic drink and mainly produced from the grapes and aniseed of the region. This drink does not only influence the human body but has also influenced the folk music of the region with super cheerful and explosively energetic music in 9/8 meter. For an authentic performance, drinking by the performers is recommended, but for an accurate performance, maybe not.”
--Erberk Eryılmaz, 2020