Music of Turkey

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Music of Turkey
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• 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

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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

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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

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Turkish Instruments
Oud
Zurna
Darbukka
Saz
Kanun
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Sufi (Mevlevi) Music
Rumi 1207-1273

• 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

1503 manuscript
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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.