Pervin Chakar, a prominent Kurdish opera singer, composes songs based on Kurdish literature.
Born in the southeastern province of Mardin (Mêrdin) in Turkey, the Kurdish soprano has been living in Germany for the past four years.
Chakar has now reinterpreted the Kurdish song “Lo Şivano” (“The Shepherd”). Two female performers of classical music, pianist İklim Tamkan and singer Chakar, are accompanied by Ertan Tekin playing the duduk, a traditional instrument used for Armenian folk music. This version of the song was arranged by İklim Tamkan.
Chakar said she loves all Kurdish songs, but her favourites are those by traditional Kurdish singers, known as the Dengbêj.
“Dengbej is very interesting to me right now and I think I should study these works in detail”, she said.
Chakar has won a number of prizes for her inspirational performances in Kurdish. During the pandemic she has composed music for poems by famous names in Kurdish ‘Divan’ literature.
“I have spent time composing music for poems by Melayê Cizîrî, Feqîyê Teyran, Melayê Bateyî and Ehmedê Xanî, one of the famous poets of Kurdish Divan literature”, she said. “It may take some time for these works to be an album, but I would be very happy to be able to produce something like that”.
