Mus2okur - An excellent way to learn Turkish Maqam music

Dear colleagues and members,
This is a message long overdue. Its purpose is to introduce, from my own
perspective, a great software on Turkish Maqam music. Some of you
already know the software in question. It is none other than Mus2okur.
Mus2okur for Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista by Data-Soft, available in
Turkish and English languages, is an interactive multimedia encyclopedia
of "traditional" monodic and heterophonic styles of Turkish music
â€" comprising hundreds of "Ottomanish", if you will, and Folk
pieces.
You can download a demo version of Mus2okur from the link below:
http://www.musiki.org/Mus2okur_en.aspx
<http://www.musiki.org/Mus2okur_en.aspx>
In my opinion, calling Mus2okur an "encyclopedia" does much injustice to
the actual capabilities of the program. Besides being a storehouse of
scores, lyrics, biographies, theoretical information and demonstrations,
Mus2okur is a sampler, player and instructor in 53-tone equal
temperament.
Allow me to insert a paranthesis here.
You will remember that I and several other musicians in Türkiye
classify the Middle Eastern art genre common to many nations and
ethnicities and based on makamlar (roughly, "modes") & usuller
(indigenous rhythms) as Maqam music. To indicate an Anatolian-Thracian
savour, we say Turkish Maqam music.
Mus2okur adheres to the mainstream expression "Turkish music" though, to
denote the metropolitan maqamish styles known as "Classical Turkish
Music" and "Turkish Art Music", as well as the rural and
since-a-few-decades-urban "Turkish Folk Music"...
You will notice, that these two sub-denominations (Classical & Art)
signify a 19th Century bifurcation within the tradition: A serious or
"austere" style on the one hand, and a popular or "frisky" style on the
other.
Alternative terms for said bifurcation have also been used in the past:
"Enderun Musikisi" emphasizes the dignified manner of the Ottoman Court
and dergahlar (sufi brotherhoods), while "Fasil Musikisi" emphasizes the
zestful manner of intellectual music gatherings, popular concerts, and
musical entertainment in gazinolar (casinos) & meyhaneler (pubs).
The distinction between Classical and Art is not always so clear-cut
however, as these styles are intertwined through the use of instruments,
forms, maqams and usuls common to both. Only the "Folk" repertoire may
rightfully be considered an altogether seperate stylistic branch while
remaining within the domain of maqam-hood.
Suffice it to say, Classical, Art and Folk styles are three authentic
and autochthonous musical flavours of Türkiye, making up in whole
what I prefer to call "Turkish Maqam music". Mus2okur comprises pieces
from all these styles, with special dedication to Classical & Art
compositions.
While I think it is much more appropriate to use the term Maqam music -
to the detriment of habit - in order to imply all of the above-mentioned
flavours and their Arabic, Persic, Turkic and Hindustani counterparts
(be they Art or Folk), and attach the prefix "Turkish" to localize the
genre to the geography whose epicentre is Anatolia and Thrace, it is
understandable to prefer the simpler and more established shorthand term
"Turkish music" despite its ambiguity, due, among other things, to
quotidian controversies surrounding the proper employment of scholarly
nomenclature.
While I do not agree with the trend to misuse the term "Turkish music"
(which rightfully embodies Pop, Rock, Arabesk and lately Hip-Hop of
Türkiye as well), Mus2okur's target audience is undoubtedly
sensitive to minute changes in prevalent idiom.
Here I close the paranthesis.
The reason for the selection of 53-tone equal temperament for Mus2okur
is quite logical: The Holderian comma resolution not only comprises the
notorious Arel-Ezgi-Uzdilek System (which is still the standard model in
conservatories and traditional music circles despite its numerous
shortcomings) with less than a cent absolute error at any degree, it
also embodies two types of middle seconds that satisfactorily explain
characteristic inflexions peculiar to maqams such as Ushshaq, Saba,
Hüzzam and Karjighar that cannot be accounted for, nay, was
vehemently shunned by Arel-Ezgi-Uzdilek: 136 cents (2/3 tone) and 158
cents (roughly 3/4 tone).
Listeners will appreciate the fact that subtle microtonal nuances of
53-tone equal temperament have been employed in the playback of all
transcribed pieces in Mus2okur. 53-tET is a quick and elegant solution
to overcome decades-long issues abounding in Turkish Maqam music theory,
at least in a computer program.
Mus2okur remains faithful to the AEU System only in the transcription of
customary key signatures and accidentals as seen in Classical and Art
music scores. Behind the veil, Mus2okur renders the pieces with their
proper microtones. By that, I mean the playback, where appropriate, of
middle seconds that elude the AEU System. In Folk pieces, comma numbers
are revealed above ordinary sharps & flats and executed as truly
intended.
Mus2okur can imitate, through sampled sounds, an actual Classical, Art
or Folk music performance when the appropriate instrument(s), diapason,
tempo and usul beat duration are chosen prior to playing a piece from
the database. While Mus2okur is unbiased to these styles and it is up to
the user to make the necessary calibrations to give the "correct feel"
to the music, you can easily experiment by trusting your ear and
judgement.
As a hint, I can tell you my preference that Folk pieces (Türkü,
Oyunhavasi, etc...) should be rendered with Baglama, Tanbur, and Def
(velveleli), in Davud Nisfiye diapason at a Moderato tempo.
For Classical compositions (Pesrev, Beste, Semai, etc...), choose the
Ud-Tanbur-Kanun-Ney combination, select Bendir (normal) as the rhythmic
instrument, make sure the tempo is Largo and the diapason set as Kiz
neyi.
For popular Art compositions (Türkü, Sarki, Fantezi, etc...),
use the same instrumental combination as above with Darbuka (velveleli)
or Def (velveli) as the rhythmic instrument, and make sure the tempo is
Allegretto and the diapason is set to Bolahenk.
Don't forget that you ought to pick the rhythmic instrument from under
the Usul tab.
Now try these settings with my personal favourites from the database:
1. Bir dalda iki kiraz (Code 376)2. Kurdilihicazkar sirto (Code 614)3.
Hicaz Mandra (Code 442)4. Dok zulfunu meydana gel (Code 82)5. Darildin
mi Gulum Bana (Code 774)6. Hatirla ey peri (Code 29)7. Uskudar'a gider
iken (Code 272)8. Yine Bir Gulnihal (Code 71)9. Bulbul olsam (Code
3524)10. Duriyemin gugumleri kalayli (Code 3200)11. Beyoglu'nda gezersin
(Code 814)12. Yaniyor mu yesil koskun lambasi (Code 739)13. Gozum
hasretle giryandir (Code 344)14. Ey gul-i bag-i eda (Code 231)15.
Nihansin dideden ey mest-i nazim (Code 503)16. Gelmis degil boyle peri
(Code 395)17. Olmaz ilac sine-i sad-pareme (Code 300)18. Donulmez
aksamin ufkundayiz (Code 108)19. Daglar daglar, viran daglar (Code
822)20. Maya dagdan kalkan kazlar (Code 840)21. Ayva cicek acmis
(2406)22. Izmirin kavaklari (Code 436)23. Benim gonlum sarhostur (Code
719)24. Ankara'nin tasina bak (Code 2128)25. Uyan ey gozlerim (Code
1829)26. Sol cennetin irmaklari (Code 371)27. Gel ey denizin nazli kizi
(Code 405)28. Telgrafin Tellerine kuslar mi konar (Code 276)29. Cokertme
(Code 275)30. Havada bulut yok (Code 440)
You can add the above selection to your güldeste (lit. rose-bouquet
in Turkish) or playlist (name it "Favourites by Oz." for instance) by
choosing the playlist tab in scores/lyrics tab and clicking on NEW.
After your playlist is ready, just double-click on its name in the
upper-left window titled "playlists" to start listening to the songs.
To see the lyrics of the piece being played (when there are lyrics of
course), click on the lyrics tab. To accompany the piece in real-time
with your voice, click on Accompaniment. Alternatively, you can choose
to recite solfege syllables in Do-Re-Mi format, A-B-C format, or
Ra-Du-Se format (an innovation by M. Kemal Karaosmanoglu). You can
command the program to display syllables as heard in concert pitch or as
written in the score.
Unfortunately, there are some issues with the proper display of Turkish
characters of lyrics in the English version of the software, which the
Data-soft team will hopefully fix in a future update. This won't hinder
you from enjoying your Mus2okur karaoke sessions though.
Mus2okur's scores have been meticulously notated - some including
dynamic marks and dynamics playback - by Project Director Mustafa Kemal
Karaosmanoglu using Mus2, a non-commercial composing tool programmed by
Karaosmanoglu himself, which is scheduled to be released for consumers
at a future date.
Mus2okur is regularly updated to include more savoury pieces from
Turkish Maqam music repertoire. Already, it houses over a thousand songs
in its archive complete with notations and lyrics. Navigating within the
song database is easy. You can sort the list by any category (composer,
lyricist, name, code, maqam, usul, etc...) according to your liking.
If you want a trustworthy source beneath your fingertips via which you
can learn Turkish Maqam music interactively, study its tones, genera,
maqams, usuls, ahenks and forms, you must give Mus2okur a try. It's a
microtonalist's must-have.
Cordially,Dr. Ozan Yarman
✩ ✩ ✩www.ozanyarman.com <http://www.ozanyarman.com/>