Selim Sesler (clarinet)

Selim Sesler was born into a professional reed horn gypsy family in 1957 in Keşan, a village located in Edirne. After the population exchanges of 1923, Sesler's family had moved from Greece to Turkey and settled in an enclave of Keşan called İbriktepe. Sesler began his love affair with music by learning how to play the horn; however, he switched to the clarinet as many children from drum and reed horn families began to play Turkish Classical ensemble instruments during the 1960s. Already a regular at weddings and town festivals by the age of 14, in the mid-1980s Sesler set out with other Roman musician friends to play in Istanbul and to develop his craft. He gained experience and recorded a lot of material by playing at restaurants with fasıl groups, as a musician at the Ferhan Şensoy Theater, and by continuing to play at Roman and non-Roman weddings. Drawing from his medley of musical experiences, Sesler developed a repertoire and musical style deeply reflective of his region. Whether he is among Roman peers or solo, Selim Sesler stands alone, famous for his masterful improvisations, expert wedding airs, and lively dance melodies. He has published three albums, namely Karşılama (Karshlama, 1998), Keşan’a Giden Yollar (The Road to Keşan, 1999) and Oğlan Bizim Kız Bizim (2006).