TURKISH CLASSICAL MUSIC by Queen KAE

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

TURKISH CLASSICAL MUSIC

HISTORY

Turkish music has passed through many stages along its journey from the depths of history to the present day. Of these stages, the one about which we have the most information is period of the Ottoman Empire. Within this Empire, a musical culture developed among the urban ruling class, who lived separately from the common people, in the environment of the palace, in mansions and yalis (luxurious waterside mansions on the shores of the Bosphorus). This musical culture was a high tradition, nourished by divan literature. The mystical orders of Islam that existed within Ottoman culture also contributed to the development of this music. Within such an elite atmosphere, this urban upper-class music developed and from the 16th century on produced musical masterpieces, becoming one of the greatest musical cultures of its period. Founding a close relationship with the Arabic and Iranian music that existed close by and within the same cultural realm; and especially the musical techniques practiced in the Byzantine churches of Istanbul, this music continued its development, taking the surrounding cultures increasingly under its influence. Though this music is known today as "Turkish Classical Music" or "Turkish Art Music," the adjective "Turkish" began to be used upon the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the founding of the modern nation state of Turkey. Up until that time, Greek, Armenian and Jewish musicians who were also part of the Ottoman system of "millets" (ethnic/religious classifications) contributed to this music as well. Consequently, though the overriding influence on this music was Turkish, no need was felt to call it "Turkish music." In addition, the practice that emerged within the western enlightenment of classifying music into strict genres was unknown. The terms "classical" or "art" that have been applied to this music are purely the reflection of a westernized approach to Turkish music. Despite this, the general public now uses the terms "Turkish Art Music" or "Turkish Classical Music" for traditional composed music, or systematized music of the urban elite with no sense of irony. This musical heritage is built on a theoretical foundation extending back at least a thousand years, and has undergone much evolution on the way to its present form. As a result of its being considered a musical genre detached from the masses, it was disparaged by intellectual circles during the last century; however it has again become the subject of much attention.