Abstract:

Until the Population Exchange Agreement between Turkey and Greece in 1923, the Christian Orthodox people who lived in different regions of Anatolia spoke Turkish in many areas of their lives. They used the Turkish language not only to communicate with their neighbors, but also in their traditional ceremonies and special occasions (such as religious rituals, marriage ceremonies, lullabies), which had led to the rise of a very rich Turkish oral tradition among the Orthodox. The migrants who had no chance to take many things with them during their forced immigration process took their cultures and identities to their new country. The problems that they faced in adapting to the new lands were reflected in their songs and ballads. In addition to the folk songs brought by their memory, they started to sing new songs about the problems in their new homeland and their longing for their former homeland. These works which were in the form of requiems included immigration problems and emotions such as longing and wailing. In this context, the study discusses ballads called "Exchange Ballads” or “Exchange Requiems", which were recorded in private archives and field studies. While composing these works which were encountered in exchange villages in Greece and in private archives, the comprehension of the Greek effects of the exchange on verbal culture and music culture was evaluated on the basis of these ballads.            

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