Turkish Music

Brief History of Turkish Music

2009-04-25T23:33:58Z

Arabesk

2009-04-26T01:19:33Z

Classical music

2009-04-26T01:14:20Z

Kurdish music

2009-04-26T01:10:18Z

Kurdish music in Turkey:

Traditionally, there are three types of Kurdish performers -- storytellers (chirokbej), minstrels (stranbej) and bards (dengbej). Many songs are epic in nature, recounting the tales of Kurdish heroes like Saladin. Love songs, dance music, wedding and other celebratory songs, erotic poetry and work songs are also popular. Musical instruments include the bloor (flute), ghol (drum), duduk (oboe), tenbur (saz), kamanche (spike fiddle) and zurna (wooden shawm).

The most frequently used song form has two verses with ten syllable lines. Kurdish music is characterized by simple melodies, with a range of only three or four notes, and strophic songs, in which an identical line of poetry and music occur at the end of each stanza. Music is modal, with its maqam (or mode in Arabic music) is called Kurdi and is known throughout the Arab world.

For most of the 20th century, Kurdish language songs were banned in Turkey. Some Turkish Kurdish singers, like Ibrahim Tatlises, sang in Turkish, while others violated the ban and fled to various countries, especially France. A black market, however, has long existed in Turkey, and pirate radio stations and underground recordings have always been available. Sivan Perwer, the most famous Kurdish musician, came from the Kurdish-Turk community. He came to fame in 1972 during a Kurdish revolt in Iraq, and became a superstar before fleeing to Germany in 1976.

Ibrahim Tatlises

Mevlevi music ayin

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Roman music

2009-04-26T01:03:20Z

Ahirkapi Roman Musicians

Roman are known through Turkey for their musicianship. Their music is called fasil and is often associated with the underclass of Turkish society, though it also can be found in more respectable establishments. Many of the most popular Roma performers come from Tarlabasi Istanbul and play the klarnet and darbuka. Mustafa Kandirali is the most famous fasil musician.

Alevi music: Semah, Deyis, and Nefes

2009-04-26T01:00:35Z

Asik Veysel

About a third of the Turkish population are Alevis, whose folk music (performed by travelling bards called asik) is well-known. These songs, which hail from the central northeastern area, are about mystical revelations, invocations to Alevi saints and Muhammad's son-in-law, Ali, whom they hold in high esteem as Shi'a Muslims. Many of these songswere written by the Seven Ulus, for example in the 15th century by Sah Hatayi, founder of the Safevi Empire, or in the 16th century by Pir Sultan Abdal, a martyr who rebelled against the Ottoman Empire. Ruhi Su, an outspoken leftwing massace, led a roots revival of asik music in the early 1970s. Many of the biggest stars of the 1990s, including Muhlis Akarsu, were killed in a fire started in 1993 by Sunni extremists. Some asiks included socio-politically active lyrics, especially Mahsuni Serif, Asik Veysel and Ali Izzet, who were well-regarded by the Turkish left. Western Anatolia is home to bozlak, a type of declamatory, partially improvised music, especially known for Neset Ertas. Around the city of Kars, asik music has a more spiritual bent, and also features ritualized insult contests.

Folk music

2009-04-26T00:55:24Z

Rock/hip hop

2009-04-26T01:23:04Z