A Catalogue of the Turkish Makams

More about the book

For over three decades, I researched Ottoman musical writings in Turkish libraries and private collections, as well as manuscripts held outside Turkey. This extensive investigation allowed me access to a wealth of Ottoman materials from the fifteenth to the late nineteenth century. Through my examination of numerous musical manuscripts in Ottoman Turkish literature, I identified common themes and evaluated their formal and generative structures. I also discerned the significance of certain sources over others and compared various text versions. The idea for this catalogue emerged from the belief that a clear presentation of the makams would serve as a valuable reference for understanding the historical development of music creation and performance, as well as for cataloging modal categories and their relationships. Over time, I recognized the evolution of a distinct Turkish concept in works that offered descriptive and analytical insights, revealing the significance of music semantics and practice across different periods. This book primarily focuses on the practical theory of the makams as reflected in the production and performance of melodic scales, as documented in Ottoman manuscripts.