Food for the Soul

Mood? Choose your music.

There is a Turkish saying, "Müzik ruhun gıdasıdır", or in other words "music is food for the soul". The saying originates from the Ottomans where listening to reed flute (ney) was considered a remedy for mental problems. Personally, this expression always confused me; because if it was actually true, Turkish people would be the most joyous culture to exist. Yes, this is a culture rich in music, but the lyrics and the styles are often times reflect sorrow, anger or reproach; hence, high cholesterol, high blood pressure. 

Shop for Kanun and tef at Galip Dede Caddesi (1)

There are many forms of Turkish music, traditional and western, originating from different parts of the country accompanied by unique, local instruments. There is Ottoman Music, Arabesque, Classical Turkish Music, Turkish Folk Music (Türk Halk Müziği); there is Çingen music, Kurdish music, Black Sea Horon, Adana Çiftetelli, Aegen Zeybek, Sufi music, Meyhane Havası... You want to dance and feel motivated? Have a bit of Roman Havası. Feeling depressed because of your unattainable love? Here, this arabesque is for you. You feel unlucky, victimized, life never treated you fair? Well, we have a collection for you... Choose from this, this or this. Yes, we have many forms of music, and yes, we have one for your mood as well. Just tell us your mood and someone will play it for you.  

Black Sea Horon with kemençe on İstiklal Caddesi

If you want to experience Turkish music, all you have to do is take a walk in İstiklal Caddesi. That's what I did yesterday with my friend Merih, breathing in the Istanbul air as we walked through the rain, half-ignorant to street musicians lining up the street every ten meters or so.  The street was less louder than usual; apparently, there is a new law limiting the use of amplifiers. Nevertheless, this did not stop any musician, including a Ferdi Tayfur impostor singing to an audience of idlers. 

Mahan Esfehani, St. Antuan church

There is a music event going on in the city almost every day. Be it Ethiopian jazz, Turkish pop, Anatolian Blues or some newly emerging band on tour. It is absolutely overwhelming, and sometimes too expensive to afford... I was lucky; my friend Canan got us front-row tickets for a Bach concert. I know, Bach is not Turkish and his music certainly is not sorrowful. But hey, how many times can you listen to Bach in a neo-Gothic church setting, performed by an Iranian musician, played on an antique harpsichord? 

Note: Picture (1) is courtesy of Canan Çermen.