Information Package / Course Catalogue
Turkish Classical Music Theory and Practise I
Course Code: MÖ351
Course Type: Required
Couse Group: First Cycle (Bachelor's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 1
Prt.: 2
Credit: 2
Lab: 0
ECTS: 3
Objectives of the Course

To know the basic philosophy and elements that make up Turkish Classical Music, to recognize Turkish Classical Music, to understand the Turkish Music Sound system, to understand the simple modal structures which are called "basit makam", and the simple rhytmic patterns which are called "basit usul" in Turkish Music, to be able to create solfege, dictation and melody.

Course Content

Basic philosophies and elements that make up Turkish Art Music; Definition of Turkish Art Music; Turkish Music Sound System: the concept of coma, naming of intervals and changing signs; Turkish music main sequence, tuning system, locations and names of frets in an octave; Knowledge about makams: the quads and the quintets that make up the makam, transposition of these quads and quintets to other frets, makam types, voices in the makam, key notes, degrees and their importance; Information about rhythmic patterns: basic concepts, Nim Sofyan, Semai, Sofyan Rhythms, Simple Makams and Solfege Practices in These Makams: Rast, Uşşak, Bayati, Hüseyni, Muhayyer, Hicaz, Uzzal, Zirgüleli Hicaz, Çargah, Buselik, Kürdi, Neva, Tahir, Karcığar and Basit Suzinak makams.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Ins. Aytekin KANDEMİR
Learning Outcomes
1.Knows the basic philosophy and elements that make up Turkish classical music. Makes its definition.
2.Knows the sound system of Turkish music.
3.Recognizes the main scale and tuning systems.
4.Knows and applies maqam and its constituent elements.
5.Knows the rhythmic patterns called "usul" and performs them.
6.Knows and distinguishes maqam and maqam types.
7.Performs solfeggio and dictation exercises appropriate to the level.
8.Performs vocalizations in simple maqam scales.
9.Gains experience in the use of simple makam sequences in education.
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Yılmaz Öztuna, Y. (1990). Great Turkish Music Encyclopedia, Ankara: Ministry of Culture Publications.
2.Karadeniz, E. (1986). Turkish Music Theory, İşbank Publications
3.Özkan, İ. H. (1984). Turkish Music Theory and Procedures, Istanbul: Ötüken Publishing House
4.YILMAZ, Z. (1977). Turkish Music Lessons, Istanbul.
5.TRT Turkish Art Music Note Archive
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical & Practice
Brief history, definition and constituent elements of Turkish Classical Music. Performance of the first formation works of Turkish classical music.
Week 2 - Theoretical & Practice
Turkish Music sound system, modifier signs, intervals and simple fourths and fifths. Recognizing coma sounds, creating fourths and fifths, transposition.
Week 3 - Theoretical & Practice
The elements that make up the Çargah maqam and the Buselik maqam. Singing works for the scales Çargah and Buselik.
Week 4 - Theoretical & Practice
Main scales, Rast and Mahur makam. Solfegio works for Rast and Mahur scales
Week 5 - Theoretical & Practice
"Usul" (rhythmic pattern) types and simple ryhthmic patterns. Practicing simple ryhthmic patterns.
Week 6 - Theoretical & Practice
The Hicaz maqam and Hicaz maqam group: pitches, sequence, route/progress characteristics, performance of sample works, maqam concept on sample works , rhythmic pattern, style, genre and form analysis
Week 7 - Theoretical & Practice
The Uşşâk ve The Beyâti maqams: pitches, sequence, route/progress characteristics, performance of sample works, maqam concept on sample works , rhythmic pattern, style, genre and form analysis
Week 8 - Theoretical & Practice
The Kürdi maqam: pitches, sequence, route/progress characteristics, performance of sample works, maqam concept on sample works , rhythmic pattern, style, genre and form analysis. (MIDTERM EXAM)
Week 9 - Theoretical & Practice
The Hüseyni and The Muhayyer maqams: pitches, sequence, route/progress characteristics, performance of sample works, maqam concept on sample works , rhythmic pattern, style, genre and form analysis
Week 10 - Theoretical & Practice
Comparison of the concepts of "Geçki" and transposition; similar and different aspects. Transposition of maqam scales.
Week 11 - Theoretical & Practice
Dictation and solfeggio techniques in Turkish Classical Music. Dictation and solfeggio exercises in known maqam scales.
Week 12 - Theoretical & Practice
Dictation and solfeggio techniques in Turkish Classical Music. Dictation and solfeggio exercises in known maqam scales.
Week 13 - Theoretical & Practice
Basit Suzinak maqam: pitches, sequence, route/progress characteristics, performance of sample works, maqam concept on sample works , rhythmic pattern, style, genre and form analysis
Week 14 - Theoretical & Practice
Karcığar maqam: pitches, sequence, route/progress characteristics, performance of sample works, maqam concept on sample works , rhythmic pattern, style, genre and form analysis
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Midterm Examination1%40
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory1101020
Lecture - Practice2141456
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)76
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
PÇ-4
PÇ-5
PÇ-6
PÇ-7
PÇ-8
PÇ-9
PÇ-10
OÇ-1
5
OÇ-2
4
4
OÇ-3
5
4
OÇ-4
4
4
OÇ-5
4
4
OÇ-6
5
5
OÇ-7
3
2
5
5
3
OÇ-8
3
2
5
5
3
OÇ-9
4
2
2
5
5
2
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026