Music of Turkey

• Language: Turkish, with Arabic and Kurdish minorities

• Ottoman dynasty: one of most powerful states in world from 15th-16th centuries.

• Turkish Republic establ. 1923 (first president Ataturk, secular state, adopted Latin alphabet): period of Westernization, elevation of folk music

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/06/OttomanEmpireIn1683.png

Turkish Music

• Classical music: arose with and associated with Ottoman elite

• Fasil: a suite of pieces in concert of classical music, all in one makam, beginning with improvised taksim

Musical Terms

• Makam: system of pitches similar to Dastgah (inlcuding quarter tones)

• Usul: system of rhythmic cycles (40-50); each has name indicated on music score (ex. Semai = ¾). Examples: 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/4, 28/4, 32/4, 120/4

• Taksim: instrumental improvisation, similar to Persian avaz

Turkish Instruments

Saz

ZurnaDarbukka

Oud

Kanun

Sufi (Mevlevi) Music

• Sufism: religious mystic tradition within Islam.

• Turkish Sufi sect of Mevlevi brotherhood: “whirling dervishes.”

• Follow tradition of 13th cent. Persian mystic theologian Rumi

• Sema ritual: music and dance

Rumi 1207-1273

1503 manuscript

Sema Ritual

• Instruments: ney flute, kanun, kamanche, cymbals, oud, bowed lute

• Use spinning dance as form of meditation and symbolic transformation.

• Seven parts, each with symbolic significance (spinning dance begins in 5th part)

• Involves verses from the Koran, praise poetry, ghazal, chanting, solo instrumental sections (improvised and composed). Tempi begin slow, increase during ceremony.