Abstract:

In consideration with the cultural features of today’s Turks, it is understood that they have a rich history. One of the things that ensure this richness is the interaction of the Turks, whom moved forward within a wide geography throughout a historical process, with different religious and belief systems. Each interaction that took place took the past as an example rather than replacing it. As a result, the cultural features did not disappear but changed shape. In this phenomenon we call as cultural conveyance, one of the roles embodied by the music is to form the connection between the past and today. Looking at the Alevi / Bektashi culture, music is clearly a factor that ensures the strength of this connection. The fact that the religious characteristics within this culture bear resemblance with the belief systems in Central Asia puts the subject in an attractive position at every aspect. While music is the number one tool of religious ceremonies in Shaman traditions, its position is the same in Alevi / Bektashi culture today. Thanks to the great right to speak music acquired in this culture, the cultural conveyance also is conducted healthily. Music has earned another important mission in Alevi / Bektashi belief apart from the mere actualization of religious practices. This mission presents itself in today’s cultural activities. Because of today’s circumstances, the different cultural activities that took place outside of the religious ceremonies also enable keeping the culture alive and conveying it at the same time. It can be said that these activities take place thanks to music. In that sense, in this article the function of today’s cultural activities in Alevi / Bektashi culture and the role given to music is analyzed after putting forth the Turks’ history of music from past to today in general terms. In this article, where the field description in regard to the subject can be found, the findings in regard to the importance of cultural activities in conveying the culture and the impact of music are presented.  

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