Discover Turkish Traditional Folk Music

Discover Turkish traditional folk music, from the well-known to the obscure.

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Turkish Folk Music Defined

Traditional folk music of Turkey consists of regional music types unique to certain areas. Most of these regional music types are shared by the various cultures living in these areas. There is also a rich tradition ofGypsy music in Turkey, as well as Armenian, Greek, and Jewish influences.

What is Turkish Folk Music?

Turkish folk music (Türk Halk Müziği) is the folk music of Turkey. It collectively refers to various forms of music from the regions of Turkey, including Central Asia and parts of the Balkans, Caucasus, and East Thrace. Although many of these regions have their own musical traditions, there is a considerable amount of overlap between them. The music often consists of significant kilims, Türk Embesisi ensembles andashik duos.

Turkish folk music has its roots in the Turkish people’s ancient Central Asian Turkic-Mongol heritage. In a sense, the songs and music represent the people’s living history. The genre is partly influenced by Ottoman court music and Careian music. However, it also includes Median, Persian, Arabic and Byzantine musical elements.

Turkish folk music has been influential in shaping the pop and classical music traditions in Turkey as well as throughout the Balkans and Central Asia. The most famous exponent of Turkish folk music was undoubtedly pitcher Niyazi Sayın (1906–1988), who popularized numerous songs from various regions throughout his career.

The Instruments of Turkish Folk Music

During the Ottoman period, Turkish folk music was a mixture of styles from various cultures within the empire, including Arabic, Persian, and Greek. With the secularization of Turkey in the 1920s, Turkish folk music began to undergo a process of westernization, and traditional instruments were replaced with Western ones. However, in recent years there has been a revival of traditional Turkish folk music, and many traditional instruments are once again being used.

Some of the most common instruments used in Turkish folk music include the bağlama (a type of string instrument), the kudüm (a type of percussion instrument), and the ney (an end-blown flute).

The Origins of Turkish Folk Music

Turkish folk music has its roots in the music of the Central Asian Turks. It was later influenced by the music of the Ottoman Empire and the music of the Balkans. Turkish folk music has also been influenced by Central Asian, Persian, Arabic, and Kurdish music.

The Ottoman Empire

Turkish folk music has its origins in the Ottoman Empire, which was a multi-ethnic and multi-religious state. The Ottomans ruled over a large area that included today’s Turkey, as well as parts of the Balkans, the Middle East, and North Africa. The Ottomans were very tolerant of different cultures and religions, and this is reflected in Turkish folk music, which incorporates elements from many different traditions.

Turkish folk music is often divided into two main categories: Anatolian folk music and Balkan folk music. Anatolian folk music includes the traditional music of Turkey’s central Anatolian region, while Balkan folk music includes the traditional music of the Ottoman territories in the Balkans. Both types of Turkish folk music have been greatly influenced by Arabic, Persian, and Armenian music.

In recent years, there has been a revival of interest in Turkish folk music, both in Turkey and abroad. This has led to a new generation of Folk musicians who are bringing traditional Folk music to a wider audience.

The Republic of Turkey

Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire, and its music reflects a melding of Turkic, Arabic, Persian, Byzantine, and European influences. Turkish folk music produces a wide variety of regional styles. turkeyhas numerous local music styles and scenes which have seen popularity outside the country in recent years.

Traditional Turkish folk music has undergone something of a revival in recent years, with a number of performers bringing it to a wider audience. Musicians such as Mercan Dede and the Group Simge are helping to keep traditional Turkish folk music alive, while also incorporating modern elements into their work.

If you’re interested in discovering more about Turkish folk music, there are plenty of resources available online. YouTube is a great place to start, with many Turks sharing clips of traditional songs and dances from their region. You can also find radio stations that specialize in Turkish folk music, or buy CDs from specialist labels such as Kalan Müzik or doublemoon records.

The Styles of Turkish Folk Music

Turkish folk music is the music of the Turkish people, produced and performed by a variety of ethnic groups in Turkey and neighbouring areas. Turkish folk music has its own style, which is different from other types of folk music. The music is usually based on the pentatonic scale and uses a variety of instruments.

Anatolian Folk Music

Anatolian folk music is characterized by its use of various instruments, including the saz (a type of lute), the ney (a type of flute), and the zurna (a type of oboe). It is also characterized by its use of improvisation, and its emphasis on melody over harmony. Anatolian folk music often includes elements of Sufi music, as well as music from the Ottoman Empire.

Aegean Folk Music

Aegean Folk Music is the folk music of the Aegean Region of Turkey. The music often includes types of instruments such as the kora (a type of harp), zurna (a type of oboe) and def (a type of drum).

Black Sea Folk Music

Among the various folk music styles of Turkey, the Black Sea region’s is perhaps the best known outside the country. This is due largely to the work of sitar virtuoso and composer Necati Çelik, whose group Yusufçu neyzenleri has popularized Black Sea folk music both inside and outside Turkey.

The Black Sea folk music style is characterized by its use of elemeler, which are traditional Turkish folk tunes. These tunes are often played on the Ney, a type of flute, and are usually accompanied by a daire, or drum. The lyrics of Black Sea folk songs often deal with topics such as love, nature, and death.

One of the most popular Black Sea folk songs is “Çırpın beni gelin,” which tells the story of a young woman who is forced to marry a man she does not love. Another popular song is “Kara Tren,” which tells the story of a train that leaves Istanbul for the Black Sea coast.

The Famous Turkish Folk Musicians

Turkish folk music is the music of the Anatolian people. It includes a wide variety of styles, from the music of the Ottoman Empire to the modern music of Turkey. Turkish folk music has been influenced by Arab, Persian, and Turkish music.

Neşet Ertaş

Neşet Ertaş (born 3 November 1938 – 25 September 2012) was a Turkish folk musician, singer, composer and virtuoso clarinet player. He was one of the most notable singers and composers of Turkish folk music.

Born in Suluca village of Kocalar region in the province of Sivas in Turkey, he started to play the clarinet at age of eleven. After finishing his military service, he took music lessons from Kemani Ender Evciyan and clarinet lessons from Ali Rıza Dönmez. He later became a professional musician and appeared on numerous radio and television programs, as well as in films. In addition to performing solo, he also played with such Folk Music groups as Kurucu Kardeşler (the Founding Brothers) and Anadolu Oyun Havaları (Anatolian Game Songs).

Aşık Veysel

Aşık Veysel (1894-1973), born in Şarkışla, Sivas Province, was a Turkish folk poet and musician. His real name was Müftüzade Ahmed Veysel, but he is better known by his pseudonym Aşık Veysel. He was illiterate and only received three years of primary education. However, this did not prevent him from becoming one of Turkey’s most celebrated folk poets and musicians.

Aşık Veysel is considered one of the most important figures in Turkish folk music. He is renowned for his simple and elegant lyrics, which often deal with themes of poverty, justice, and religious faith. Aşık Veysel’s music has been performed by some of Turkey’s most popular singers, including Zeki Müren, Neşet Ertaş, Ibrahim Tatlises, and Çalarca Ahmet Kaya.

Müzeyyen Senar

Müzeyyen Senar (September 23, 1929 – July 27, 2013) was a Turkish folk music singer from Rize.

Senar was born in Pazar district of Rize in 1929. Her father Mehmet Emin Kekeçoğlu was a folk music lover, who introduced his daughter to field work songs at an early age. In 1939, she won first prize in the “Rize Folk Songs Competition” held by the Ministry of Education. This prize was followed by another one in the “National Folk Songs Competition” organized by Radio Ankara in 1941.

In 1950, she started her professional career as a solo singer in Istanbul Radiosu (Istanbul Radio). She became famous with her renditions of songs such as “Çiçek Dağı”, “Yalancı Bahar”, “Gurbet”. She toured extensively throughout Turkey and gave concerts also in Bulgaria and Romania.

She retired from active singing life in the 1980s, but continued to participate in radio programs and series about Turkish folk music until her death on 27 July 2013, aged 83.