A classical guitar concert work blending Anatolian and New Zealand themes, in unique scordatura tuning.
Difficulty: Advanced (Grade 8+)
Technical Note: Altered tuning, scordatura copy.
Purchase: The score is available as an ebook via Lulu Publishing.
Price: US$9.99 (approx. NZ$17.00)
About
Commissioned by Turkish-born guitarist Barkin Sertkaya with support from Creative New Zealand, Seikilos Chimes is a four-movement suite inspired by the Seikilos Epitaph — the world’s oldest surviving complete piece of music.
Each movement reflects a line of the ancient text:
- While you live, shine – a vibrant opening built from variations of the epitaph’s melody.
- Sing and Dance – rhythmic and tonal colours drawn from Turkish folk traditions.
- Life is Short – fleeting melodic fragments punctuated by pizzicato “tick-tock” effects.
- Time Demands its Toll – driving rhythms and agitated energy, culminating in a full statement of the ancient melody.
Alongside these motifs, the work weaves in echoes of the Westminster Chimes — a personal reference to the clock tower in Blenheim, New Zealand, memorialising lives lost in war, including those of the composer’s own ancestors.
This edition is published in scordatura notation only, a practical decision that best serves most classical guitarists. The unique tuning (6=C, 5=G, 4=E, 3=G, 2=C, 1=E) shapes the sound world of the piece, making it both distinctive and rewarding, though not necessarily approachable for players who prefer standard tuning.
The result is a unique meeting of Anatolian and Aotearoan themes, blending ancient and modern, personal and universal. As Barkin Sertkaya observes, “Performing this piece combines cultural aspects from both worlds in a blissful and captivating way.”
The University of Auckland highlighted this commission in a 2019 press release.
Watch the world premiere performance by Barkin Sertkaya (Jan 14, 2020) on YouTube.
- While You Live, Shine
- Sing and Dance
- Life is Short
- Time Demands its Toll