About this Event
Music Across Borders
Türkiye and Its Cultural Neighbours
A Listening Club Series
Marking World Children's Day, Yunus Emre Institute London's Listening Club explores the world of lullabies, tracing the connections between music, childhood, memory and cultural identity across Anatolia and beyond.
Facilitated by musicologist and concert pianist Prof. Dr Mine Doğantan-Dack, this special session will consider how lullabies, among the earliest forms of music we encounter, carry far more than the simple intention of soothing a child. Passed down through generations, they preserve family histories, cultural traditions, emotions and the intimate relationship between voice and memory.
At the heart of the evening are the rich lullaby traditions of Türkiye, where ninniler have long served as expressions of affection, hope, longing and everyday life. Through their melodies, rhythms and words, lullabies reveal the experiences of those who sing them, reflecting not only the world of childhood but also the social and cultural environments in which they emerge.
Drawing connections with lullabies from Türkiye’s neighbours, the session will explore how familiar musical gestures, repetition and the human voice create a sense of comfort and belonging across different languages and cultures. It will also consider how lullabies shape our earliest experiences of music and continue to resonate in personal and collective memory long after childhood.
A curated selection of recorded music and audiovisual materials will introduce participants to different lullaby traditions, offering opportunities to reflect on their musical characteristics, cultural meanings and emotional associations.
Rather than a conventional lecture, Listening Club combines guided listening, cultural storytelling and open discussion, inviting participants to share their impressions and explore the remarkable ways in which simple songs connect generations.
No musical training or previous knowledge is required.
Event Details
📅 Date: Friday, 20 November 2026
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Venue: Yunus Emre Institute London
10 Maple Street, London W1T 5HA
About Prof. Dr Mine Doğantan-Dack
Mine Doğantan-Dack is a musicologist and concert pianist whose work brings together artistic performance and academic research. Born in Istanbul, she studied Philosophy at Boğaziçi University and Piano Performance at The Juilliard School, before completing her PhD in Musicology at Columbia University.
She has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in the USA, UK, Germany, France and Türkiye, and is the founder of the Marmara Piano Trio. Her extensive research and publications explore music performance, artistic practice, musical instruments and performers’ lived experiences.
Having previously taught at Yeditepe University, Middlesex University, the University of Oxford and the University of Manchester, she currently teaches Performance Studies at the Faculty of Music, University of Cambridge. She was also recently a guest on BBC Radio 3’s Composer of the Week, discussing the music of the Turkish Five.
Prof. Dr Mine Doğantan-Dack facilitates Yunus Emre Institute London’s Listening Club, guiding audiences through music using close listening, cultural context, discussion and shared reflection.
For more information about the Listening Club series, please visit Yunus Emre Institute London’s website:
https://yeelondon.org.uk/projects/listening-club/
or email us at [email protected]
IMPORTANT NOTES
As this is a free Listening Club session, we often experience a number of no-shows. To make sure seats don’t go empty, we may issue a limited number of additional tickets. Admission is therefore subject to venue capacity and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that registration or an e-ticket does not guarantee a seat, and standing admission may be possible.
Please arrive in good time before the advertised start time. Late admission may be restricted once the session has begun.
Photography and filming will take place during the session for archiving, marketing and promotional purposes. By attending, you consent to Yunus Emre Institute using such images and footage in related publications, digital platforms and promotional materials.
If you have any accessibility requirements, please contact us in advance at [email protected] so that we can do our best to accommodate your needs.
Event details may be subject to change where necessary. Any significant changes will be communicated to registered attendees.
Thank you for your understanding.
Event venue & nearby stays
Yunus Emre Enstitüsü - London, 10 Maple Street, London, United Kingdom
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