Turkish art music

The Turkish art music ( Türk Sanat Müziği , abbreviated TSM ; also: Klâsik Türk Mûsikîsi "classical Turkish music", Saray Mûsikîsi "palace music") is one of the two main branches of Turkish music ; it is to be distinguished from Turkish folk music ( Türk Halk Müziği ).

Musician from the then Ottoman Aleppo in the middle of the 18th century

Origins and history

The origins of Turkish art music go back to the beginning of the 14th century.

Its history is divided into six epochs:

Preparatory Era ( Hazırlayıcı dönem ; 1360–1435)

Early Classical ( İlk klasik dönem ; 1640–1712)

Late Classical ( Son klasik dönem ; 1778–1846)

Neoclassical ( Neoklasik dönem ; 1825–1897)

Romanticism ( Romantik Dönem ; 1880–1955)

Reform ( reform dönemi )

Turkish art music is heavily influenced by classical Arabic and Persian music .

Sound system

A big difference between European music and Turkish art music lies in the division of the tones : while in European music there are only whole and semitones , the whole tone in Turkish art music is theoretically broken down into nine partials ( koma ).

The basic component of Turkish art music is the makam (such as “key” or “scale”). The G major of western music corresponds e.g. B. approximately the scale of Rast , G minor z. B. roughly that of Nihavend . In addition, there are scales that are similar to the church modes, and also those that are typically oriental. There are over 500 makamlar in total in Turkish art music. In addition to the melodic definition, each composition is tied to a rhythmic pattern (usul) .

Another characteristic of Turkish art music is its unanimity , which in practice is realized as a heterophony .

to form

The taksimler are short pieces of improvisation before or within the song that can be added to the song by the singer or an experienced member of the orchestra. A sung taksim is called a gazel . In it, a poem is recited in the respective makam.

Other, non-improvised instrumental forms are peşrev and saz semaîsi .

A performance cycle that consists of an alternation of instrumental and sung pieces is called a fasıl .

Instruments

In Turkish music, Tanbur , Ud , Kanun and Ney are played among others . The Çeng harp disappeared in the early 18th century.

The tanbur (also tambur) is a Persian three-stringed long - necked lute that has been known for two thousand years .

The Ud is a short-necked lute from the Middle East and a precursor to the European lute .

The Kanun is the oriental forerunner of the zither .

The ney is a flute with a distinctive sound that is used in Persian , Arabic, and Turkish music.

The rhythm is very important. The darbuka is a tumbler from the Arab world. There are also kudüm and large and small frame drums ( def ), which are sometimes set with bells ( zil ).

Furthermore, violins, cellos, double basses, clarinets and many other instruments are used, which can produce the fine partials ( koma ) of the Turkish classical music (see above under "Tone system").

Influence on European music

The oriental influence on European music lies in military music , not in the fixed rules of makam or the beauty of taksim.

New instruments in the symphony orchestra

The Ottoman military band , also known as the Janissary Chapel, not only spread fear and horror in Europe. The new kind of music and the unknown instruments sparked a fashion that continues in symphony orchestras to this day.

The European classical composers of the 18th century were influenced by Turkish art music, especially as regards the role of the brass and percussion instruments in the Janissary bands.

This Turkish fashion introduced the use of the cymbal , bass drum and bell in the symphony orchestra. Certain compositions penned by Joseph Haydn , Mozart or Beethoven owe their creation largely to Turkish musical inspiration. It was with these instruments that dramatic and exciting acts in the compositions were sometimes only possible.

Influence on the Italian opera

With the Renaissance at the end of the 16th century, as part of the revival of Italian art music, opera emerged . Turkish elements flowed into Italian opera, which continue to have an impact today.

Influence on Haydn, Beethoven and Mozart

The desire for oriental motifs in music, painting and architecture (see the Arabesque article ) shows how positive the Middle East appeared to Europeans when long-distance travel was reserved for researchers and traders in the 18th century. The influence on the music proved to be lasting. Well-known musical works such as Joseph Haydn's military symphony and some of his operas were only created in order to be able to incorporate Turkish instruments. Turkish instruments were also included in Beethoven's 9th Symphony . Mozart wrote his famous Rondo alla turca . This skillfully imitates the clinking percussion instruments of a Turkish Janissary band. He also used Turkish motifs in some of his operas .