This course will be a hands-on instruction to performing the musics of Turkey. Students will become acquainted with the performance practices of Turkish music genres including Ottoman court music, the ritual music of Sufi Islam, the Alevi cem ceremony, music of Turkey’s religious minorities including Jews, Greeks, and Armenians, Kurdish music, the folk musics of Turkey’s seven geographic regions, and some key genres of popular music. Emphasis will be on vocal music and percussion, and students will learn a number of different vocal and drumming styles. Instrumentalists of all kinds are also very welcome. We will study makam, the over-arching melodic structure of Turkish music, and usul, the Turkish rhythmic structure. Understandings of vocal ornamentation, improvisation, and the relationship of melody and lyrics will be explored. Students will also study the social, political, and spiritual dimensions that often underpin these musics. The relationship between music, dance, and movement will also be a significant topic. The semester will culminate with a performance by the students. Music will be taught mostly by ear and occasionally with notation. Some music literacy is required.

Corequisites: Attendance at Music Workshop, Tuesday 6:30-8:00