Turkish Folk Music: The Top 10 Songs You Need to Know

Turkish folk music is a great way to get to know the country’s culture and traditions. Here are the top 10 songs you need to know!

Turkish Folk Music Basics

Turkish folk music is an important part of the country’s culture and history. It is a blend of both Central Asian and Middle Eastern music traditions. Turkish folk music has a wide variety of instruments and styles. In this article, we will be discussing the top 10 Turkish folk songs that you need to know.

What is Turkish folk music?

Turkish folk music has undergone a tremendous amount of change over the past century. While the music still retains many of its traditional roots, it has also been influenced by a variety of other genres, including pop, rock, and classical. As a result, Turkish folk music today is an incredibly diverse and vibrant genre that is enjoyed by people all over the world.

There are a few key elements that characterize Turkish folk music. First, the music often features highly ornamented melodies that are played on a variety of traditional instruments, such as the bağlama (a type of lute), the kudüm (a type of drum), and the zurna (a type of oboe). Second, Turkish folk songs often tell stories or express emotions about topics such as love, nature, and religion. Finally, many Turkish folk songs are performed in a call-and-response style, with one singer or instrument taking the lead and others joining in to create a rich and complex texture.

If you’re interested in exploring Turkish folk music further, check out some of these classic songs:

1. “Ayrılık Zamani” by Müslüm Gürses
2. “Bülbülde Yollar Tunca” by Sabahat Akkiraz
3) “Gelin Havası” by Musa Eroğlu
4) “Hicaz Kar Sesi” by Nida Tüfekçi
5) “Yağmur” by Neşet Ertaş

The history of Turkish folk music

Turkish folk music has its roots in the music of the Ottoman Empire, which was a melting pot of different cultures and traditions. Over time, elements of Arabic, Persian, and even European music were assimilated into the Ottoman repertoire. In the 20th century, with the rise of nationalism, Turkish folk music began to be seen as a specifically Turkish form of expression.

Today, Turkish folk music is enjoyed both inside and outside of Turkey. It has been particularly popular in recent years among younger audiences, who are rediscovering their roots and reconnecting with their cultural heritage.

If you’re interested in exploring Turkish folk music, here are ten essential songs that you need to know:

1. “Aksakal” by Zülfü Livaneli
2. “Bozkırın Dönüşü” by Selçuk Balcı
3. “Dumanlı Dağlar” by Moğollar
4. “Eylül Gecesi” by Neşet Ertaş
5. “Gelin Gör Beni Ağlama” by Orhan Gencebay
6. “Güle Güle” by Müzeyyen Senar
7. “Kara toprak” by Ibrahim Tatlises
8. “Kumrucu Simanın Tekkesi” by Mehmet Emin Aybar’a göre Haci Hayri Efendi şarkısına yeniden beste) 9. “Şalvar Alban ile Saz Şevketi” by Selda Bağcan & Cahit Oben 10. “Uzun İnce Bir Yoldayım” by Barış Manço

The influence of Turkish folk music

Over the centuries, Turkish folk music has been influenced by a variety of factors including the cultures of Central Asia, Persia, Arabia, and the Balkans. This can be seen in the instruments used in Turkish folk music, which include drums, flutes, and stringed instruments such as the bağlama (a type of lute).

Turkish folk music is also characterized by its use ofMelismatic singing, which is a type of singing that involves lengthy and complex melodies. This style of singing is often used in religious music, and it can be heard in some of the best-known Turkish folk songs.

The Top 10 Turkish Folk Songs

Turkish folk music is a blend of the music of the Turkic peoples of Anatolia, the Balkans, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Iran, Iraq and Mongolia. The music has its roots in the folk music of the Ottoman Empire. In recent years, Turkish folk music has been growing in popularity. Here are the top 10 Turkish folk songs that you need to know.

“Aşık Veysel” by Aşık Veysel

Aşık Veysel (1894-1973) was a folk poet, singer and bağlama player from Turkey. He is one of the most important figures in Turkish folk music, and his work has been covered by a wide range of artists. “Aşık Veysel” is one of his most famous songs, and it has been covered by many different artists over the years.

“Dertliyim” by Arif Sağ

Arif Sağ is widely considered one of the most popular and important folk singers in Turkey. His work spans several decades and has helped to shape the sound of modern Turkish folk music. “Dertliyim” is one of his most well-known songs, and it perfectly showcase’s his signature style. The song is a lament for lost love, and it hits all the right emotional notes. If you’re looking for a Turkish folk song that will stay with you long after you’ve heard it, “Dertliyim” is a great choice.

“Gülümse Aşkına” by Müslüm Gürses

“Gülümse Aşkına” is one of the most famous Turkish folk songs of all time. It was written by Müslüm Gürses and released in 1967. The song tells the story of a young man who is in love with a girl who does not reciprocate his affections. Despite this, he continues to smile and hope for her love. “Gülümse Aşkına” is a popular choice for weddings and other special occasions.

“Hasretinle Yandım” by Orhan Gencebay

Orhan Gencebay is a Turkish music legend, and “Hasretinle Yandım” is one of his most famous songs. The song is about yearning, and the desire to be reunited with a loved one. The lyrics are simple, but the emotions conveyed are deep and powerful. “Hasretinle Yandım” is a classic Turkish folk song that everyone should know.

“Kanunî Sultan Süleyman” by Zülfü Livaneli

Turkish folk music is a style of music which is often characterized by verses without a repeating chorus, and sometimes features instruments such as the taqsim and saz. It is often sung in 12/8 time with lyrics about life, love, loss, and motherhood.

Some of the most famous Turkish folk songs include “Kanunî Sultan Süleyman” by Zülfü Livaneli, “Şehrazat” by Mehmet Erdem, and “Gelin Cayı” by Müslüm Gürses. Below is a list of the top 10 Turkish folk songs, as chosen by host of FolkAwaz Radio, Cem Cemgil.

“Şehrazat” by Aşık Mahsuni Serif

Şehrazat is a Turkish folk song about a young woman who is in love with a man who is not her husband. The song tells the story of her love for him and her hope that he will someday return to her.

“Uzun İnce Bir Yoldayım” by Barış Manço

“Uzun İnce Bir Yoldayım” is one of the most popular Turkish folk songs of all time. It was written and performed by Barış Manço, one of Turkey’s most beloved musicians. The song is a celebration of life on the open road, and it has been covered by many other artists over the years.

“Yağmur” by Zeki Müren

“Yağmur” (“Rain”) is one of the most beloved Turkish folk songs, and was popularized by legendary singer Zeki Müren. The song is about a young girl who is waiting for her lover to return, and the rain that symbolizes her tears.

“Yollar” by Neşet Ertaş

Born in the village of Aksehir, Konya Province, in 1938, Neşet Ertaş is a Turkish folk musician, singer, and composer. He is considered one of the foremost exponents of Turkish folk music and is nicknamed the “Folk Poet”. He has collaborated with some of the most notable Turkish musicians, such as Aziz Nesin, Talip Özkan, and Ziya Seniör. Ertaş released his first album in 1964 and has gone on to release over 30 albums. He has also written numerous film scores and songs for other artists. “Yollar” (“The Roads”) is one of his most famous songs and was originally released on his 1966 album Yolların Tanrısı.

“Zalim” by İbrahim Tatlıses

Turkish folk music is the folk music of the Turkish people. It has its roots in the Central Asian nomadic traditions of Turkic peoples, such as the Kyrgyz, Kazakhs, Turks, Mongols and Uyghurs, as well as influences from more modern influences such as Turkish popmusic.

Turkic nomadic music was traditionally accompanied by the komuz (a three-stringed lute), the Kurdish dahol (a percussion instrument) and other instruments such as the tambur (a lute with a long neck) and the ney (a traditional flute). Turkic music has also been influenced by other cultures, including Arabic, Persian and Ottoman Turkish music.

The modern Turkish folk music scene is very diverse, with a number of different styles and subgenres being represented. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in traditional Turkish folk music, with a number of bands and artists releasing new albums and singles.

One of the most popular Turkish folk songs is “Zalim” by İbrahim Tatlıses. The song tells the story of a man who is in love with a woman who is married to someone else. The man is trying to persuade the woman to leave her husband and run away with him.

The song is a relatively simple one, but it has a catchy melody that makes it easy to sing along to. It is also one of the most popular songs for weddings and other special occasions.