is a composer, performer, conductor and music scholar. He began his musical life at age 11 at theITÜ State Conservatory of Istanbul as a student of Mutlu Torun, a famous pedagogue. Hestudied composition with Cemal Resit Rey, Yalçın Tura, and Stuart Smith, and participated incomposition workshops with such luminaries as George Crumb, Lukas Foss, Philip Glass, RogerReynolds, Steve Reich, and Charles Wuorinen. Mr. Beken studied composition, conducting andworld music and earned a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from the University of Maryland.Theperformance of his Triple Concerto featured the eminent violinist Shlomo Mintz. The worldpremier of his Blue Monologue was performed at Carnegie Hall. “I Am A Corpse” for violin andorchestra was released with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. Pacific Serenades commissionedhis Memories of a Shoehorn in Los Angeles and Issa Sonus Chamber Music Ensemble featuredseveral of his compositions in their concerts in New York City and dedicated their upcoming CDentirely to his compositions. His music is published by Amplitude Music in France and he is amember of ASCAP. Currently, Dr. Beken is a professor of world music theory and compositionat UCLA. He has written several articles for the Grove and other scholarly publications.His work received special recognition, including Raymond Kennedy Excellence in ScholarshipAward (musical composition, USA), ERMMedia 2006 Masterworks Prize (composition, USA),Turkish American of the Year, Istanbul Technical University High Achievement Award,Superior Success in an Artistic Branch Award of the Istanbul Technical University (only fourindividuals received such an award since the university’s establishment in 1773), Maryland StateArts Council Individual Artist Award (USA), The Best Film Music Award of the fifth AnkaraInternational Film Festival, and Golden Orange Best Film Music Award of the Antalya GoldenOrange Film Festival.

LIST OF COMPOSITIONS:

PUBLISHER: Amplitude Music, France; and ASCAP

ORCHESTRAL COMPOSITIONS AND THEIR WORLD AND NATIONAL PREMIERS

2013 Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, commissioned by Cihat Askin, Istanbul, Turkey

2012: Simple Symphony, in four movements for symphony orchestra. Commissioned by IstanbulFilarmonia and Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall, Turkey

2008 Hicazkar Sirto (traditional) for solo ud and symphony orchestra, commissioned andpremiered by San Diego Chamber Orchestra under the baton of conductor Jung-Ho Pak (2008).

2007-2000 Symphony 1, Istanbul Tales, commissioned and premiered by Filarmonia Istanbul(Turkey), also performed by Sophia Philharmonic Orchestra (Bulgaria), Izmir State SymphonyOrchestra (Turkey), and Azerbaijan Symphony Orchestra (Azerbaijan).

2006: “I Am A Corpse,” an independent movement from My Name is Red, Concerto for Violinand Orchestra (in progress). Siena College Committee on Teaching and Faculty Developmentawarded a research fellowship for the writing of this composition. “I Am A Corpse” has beenproduced by ERMMedia with Robert Winstin conducting the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra(2008).

2005: Arrangements of 9 Traditional Pieces for Ud and Orchestra, premiered by IstanbulChamber Orchestra under the direction of Hakan Sensoy. Commissioned by the ErciyesUniversity and Oya Levendoglu.

2005: Concerto for Ud and Orchestra, performed by Istanbul Chamber Orchestra under thedirection of Hakan Sensoy. Commissioned by the Erciyes University and Oya Levendoglu. . Ithas been produced by North and South Consonance with Münir Beken on ud and Max Lifchitzconducting the New York North and South Consonance Orchestra (2011).

2005: Gallipoli Symphonic Poem for orchestra, performed by Istanbul Filarmonia under thedirection of Hakan Sensoy. Commissioned by Istanbul Filarmonia

2003: Triple Concerto for three violins and orchestra, performed in June 2003 at the IstanbulInternational Music Festival by Istanbul Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Orhan Sallıelwith soloists Shlomo Mintz, Yair Dalal and Cihat Askin. Commissioned by Istanbul FestivalFoundation

2003: Pottery Shards in two movements for String Orchestra, performed by Istanbul ChamberOrchestra under the direction of Hakan Sensoy. Commissioned by Istanbul Chamber Orchestra

2001: Orchestration of 2 works by Erik Satie. Performed by Istanbul Technical UniversityChamber Orchestra under the direction of Hakan Sensoy

2000: Istanbul Tales, suite for orchestra, performed by Istanbul Filarmonia under the direction ofHakan Sensoy. Commissioned by Istanbul Filarmonia

1998 Fantasia Ayse for chamber orchestra, performed (and scheduled to be performed) by MRChamber Orchestra, Akbank Chamber Orchestra, Mersin Chamber Orchestra and BorusanChamber Orchestra in Turkey

Explorations, performed by the Istanbul Studio Orchestra

The Shrine of Gazi Baba for solo ney (flute) and string orchestra, performed by Senol Filiz andthe Istanbul Studio Orchestra

1984 Lodos, suite for orchestra, performed by Ayangil Orchestra and Chorus for the IstanbulInternational Music Festival (broadcast Ankara TRT TV, 1984)

Folk Song Without Words for chamber orchestra, performed by the Istanbul TechnicalUniversity Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Faris Akarsu (broadcast Ankara TRT TV, 1984)

1981 The Wedding, concert piece for orchestra, performed by Bosphorus University Orchestrafor the Istanbul International Music Festival

CHAMBER MUSIC COMPOSITIONS AND THEIR WORLD AND NATIONALPREMIERS

2013 Cats of Istanbul, two movements (Hakan’s Cube Cat; Taner’s Street Cats) for flute quartet.Commissioned by Bulent Evcil.

2012 Three Songs Without Words, for Renaissance lute and Turkish ud. First movement isperformed at A Meeting Place: Medieval and Renaissance Music for Lute and Ud, a concert withlutenist August Denhard in Bloomington, in September 2011

2011 Desert Tale for violin and ud, performed at a concert at the Byzantine Basilica Cistern inIstanbul on February 5, 2011.

2011 Damlalar for violin and ud, performed at a concert at the Byzantine Basilica Cistern inIstanbul on February 5, 2011.

2009-2006: Blue Monologue, for violin solo (a 2009 version for vibraphone). Performed byHakan Sensoy at the Carnegie Hall (June 19 2006). Commissioned by violinist Hakan Sensoy

2008 Memories of a Shoe Horn for flute, ud, violin, viola and cello, world premiere in February2009 by Pacific Serenades Chamber Ensemble. Commissioned by Pacific Serenades, LosAngeles, California

2008-2001: Holes in the Japanese Lamp, for violin and cello, an earlier version performed by H.Sensoy and H. Ozturk in November 2001

2006 A Türk in Seattle for flute, clarinet, violin and cello, world premier by the Seattle ChamberPlayers. Commissioned by the Seattle Chamber Players

2002 Pottery Shards, for violin and piano

1999 Piano Sonata “FürBlake”, premiered by Ming-Yi Hameroff in February 2000 in

Baltimore, Maryland, Harfort College Concert Hall.

1994 The Well II for solo guitar, performed by Münir Beken at the WXPN radio station,Philadelphia

1990 Fugue for String Quartet, performed by The Istanbul Studio String Quartet

1989 Kanto for violin and piano, performed by violinist Cihat Askin, with Vedat Kosal on piano(Munich, Germany, 1989). Recorded by Kalan Music (Istanbul, 1998)

1988 The Giant's Tale, performed by the Istanbul Studio Orchestra (Istanbul). Recorded byKalan Music (Istanbul, 1998)

The Giant's Tale for violin and piano, performed by violinist Cihat Askin, with Mehru Ensari onpiano (Sofia, Bulgaria, 1992). Recorded by Kalan Music (Istanbul, 1998)

Prelude for Violin and Piano, performed by violinist Cihat Askin, with Münir Beken on piano(broadcast Istanbul TV, 1988)

Ancient Chants of a Nymph for four clarinets and cattle drums, performed by The Istanbul StudioClarinet Quartet, with Ferruh Yarkin on percussion (broadcast Istanbul TV, 1988)

The Poem of Skopje, performed by Bülent Evcil on flute and Aysegül Soyer on clarinet

Fugue for Three Guitars, performed by the Bilkent Classical Guitar Trio (broadcast Istanbul TV,

1988)

1986 Desert for ney (flute), kemençe (fiddle) and ud (lute), performed by The Istanbul Trio(broadcast Ankara TRT TV, 1987)

Four Etudes for Ud (lute) number 4 has been recorded by Rounder Records

1981 Water Drops, performed by the Istanbul Trio (broadcast Ankara TRT TV, 1982)INCIDENTAL MUSIC FOR DANCE AND THEATER

2007 Music for Seyh Galib’s Beauty and Love by Walter Andrews and Ozgen Felek.Choreographer Carolina Pahde Mallarino. Montreal, Canada and Ann Arbor, Michigan

2005 Original music for The Seagull, Siena College Production, Loudonville, NY; directed byMahmood Karimi-Hakak

2002 and 2001 Composer and solo performer of the original music for "Borderland," Via DanceCompany, On The Boards, Seattle, Washington

1985 Dino and Ceren, ballet music for orchestra, performed by the Istanbul Chamber Orchestra;staged in 1991 by The State Opera and Ballet of the Ministry of Culture, which commissionedthe music from the composer in 1985

FILM MUSIC

Forthc. in 2014 Composer and music director for the film Turkish Paprika. Written, producedand directed by Ela Zengin and co-produced by Ulli Lommel, Munich, Germany

1996 Composer and music director for the movie 80th Step (for orchestra). Directed by TomrisGiritlioglu and produced by Turkish Radio and Television (TRT)

1994 Composer for the documentary film The Brain: Our Universe Within (for chamberensemble) for the Discovery Channel. Broadcast on the Discovery Channel on October 2-4

1994 Composer and music director for the movie Hera and Leandros (for chamber ensemble).Directed by Irfan Tozum and produced by Muhtesem Film Company, Istanbul, Turkey

1993 - 1994 Composer and music director for the movie Summer Rain (chamber ensemble &choir). Directed by Tomris Giritlioglu and produced by TRT

1992 Composer and music director for the movie The Day Dreams of Miss Cazibe (for chamberorchestra). Directed by Irfan Tozüm and produced by Muhtesem Film Company, Istanbul,Turkey

1990 Composer and music director at Turkish Radio-Television, Ankara TV for 4-parttelevision drama The Little World (for flute, guitar, and strings). Directed by Osman Sinav andproduced by TRT

1988 - 1989 Composer and music director at Turkish Radio-Television, Ankara TV for 11 partdocumentary series, Turkish Footprints in Europe (for various chamber groups and orchestra).Directed by Mehmet Ali Polat and produced by TRT

Münir Nurettin Beken Bio:

Münir Nurettin Beken, ud virtuoso, scholar and composer, began his musical life atage 11 at the ITÜ State Conservatory of Istanbul as a student of Mutlu Torun, afamous pedagogue. He studied composition with Cemal Resit Rey, Yalçın Tura, andStuart Smith, and participated in composition workshopswith such luminaries as George Crumb, Lukas Foss, Philip Glass, RogerReynolds, Steve Reich, and Charles Wuorinen. Mr. Beken studied composition,conducting and world music and earned a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from theUniversity of Maryland.

His compositions have been performed internationally with considerablerecognition in some of the most significant concert halls in the world. Theperformance of his Triple Concerto featured the eminent violinist Shlomo Mintz.The world premier of his Blue Monologuefor solo violin was performed at Carnegie Hall. His composition “I Am A Corpse”for violin and orchestra was released with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.Pacific Serenades Chamber Music Ensemble performed the world premier of his Memories of a Shoehorn, in Los Angelesand Issa Sonus Chamber Music Ensemble featured several of his compositions intwo concerts in New York City and dedicated their upcoming CD entirely to hiscompositions. His music is published by Amplitude Music in France and heis a member of ASCAP.

Münir Beken is currently Assistant Professor of theory andcomposition in at the Herb Alpert School of Music, Ethnomusicology Departmentat University of California Los Angeles. In addition to theory and composition,his scholarly interests include the phenomenology of music, cognitivemusicology, and melodic modal systems of the Middle East and Central Asia. Hehas written several articles for the New Grove Dictionary of Music andMusicians and other scholarly publications.