INTERNATIONAL KAVAL CONFERENCE

Kaval represents not only the end blown flute used in Turkish traditional music; but also a family of instruments classified by its common material, physical structure, tuning system and playing techniques. From ancient times to present day, the archeological findings show that by many civilizations, kaval have been used in forms similar to recent structure. From the daily practices of shepherds to religious rites; or from folk traditions to jazz and avant-garde performances, kaval created a world of meanings and traditions all over the world. However, despite its rich cultural and historical background; the studies on the ‘instruments of kaval family’ can be evaluated as scarce in music scholarship.  Besides, further studies on kaval’s sound range, construction techniques, performance places, cognitive studies and kaval education are crucial.
 
Istanbul Technical University Turkish Music Conservatory organizes the first ‘International Kaval Conference’, as a contribution to music studies and gathers many scholars around the world specialized in this field.
 
The conference will occur on 20th- 21st February 2014 at Istanbul Technical University. The aim of the conference is to contribute to the music scholarship by opening new aspects in kaval education and performance through the papers, panels and workshops by many researchers and musicians. The sections of the conference can be listed as but not restricted to:

• The ethnographic studies on kaval
• Traditional and contemporary performance practices
• Kaval construction techniques and approaches to structural issues
• Educational approaches
• Kaval in historical resources and archeological findings
• The cultural meanings of kaval performance
• Aesthetic and cognitive approaches to kaval
• Kaval in music industry