Turkish Classical Music

Turkish classical music is the art music of the Ottoman court and the Mevlevi lodges, built on the makam system of melodic modes and usul rhythmic cycles. Performed by small ensembles of ney, tanbur, oud, kemençe and voice, its repertoire of peşrev, saz semaisi, şarkı and fasıl suites was shaped by composers from Itri to *Tanburi Cemil Bey*. Rooted in Ottoman Istanbul yet shared across the empire's Greek, Armenian and Jewish musicians, it survived the Republic's westernizing reforms through radio, conservatories and master performers such as *Necdet Yaşar* and *Kudsi Ergüner*.