Research Article
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Re-Evaluating the Roots of Arabesk Music: Grup Metronom

Year 2022, , 169 - 209, 31.12.2022
https://doi.org/10.33906/musicologist.1099343

Abstract

Grup Metronom played a leading role in the development of Turkish arabesk music during the 1970s. Delineating the social and musical relationships within the Band reveals a new perspective on genre blending, challenging the received view of the history of arabesk. Based on in-depth interviews with prominent actors who shaped the scene and witnessed the historical process, the article attempts to illuminate how a group of musicians with diverse backgrounds-from makam (both folk and art), jazz, and Western symphonic traditions- interacted, performed and were perceived by other musicians in the cultivation of arabesk music, thus challenging the assumption that arabesk music was pioneered by a group of marginal musicians who shared a common cultural ground. The argument is also supported by the musical analysis of selected works to define musical tendencies and eclectic structures. Text analysis (e.g., lyrics, melodic contour, scale, and form), performance analysis (arrangement, orchestration, vocal and instrumental interpretation, and timbre), and other musical inputs (recording, use of decorative sounds, and mix) constitute most of the stylistic interpretations in the paper. The article also attempts to elaborate issues related to Arabic influence on arabesk music; and ground some of them through the stories of the actors in the case and analysis of the sonic environment in their products.

Supporting Institution

Istanbul Technical University Scientific Research Coordination Division (BAP)

Thanks

ITU BAP

References

  • Akgül, Özgür. (2009). Romanistanbul. İstanbul: Punto publishing.
  • Akgül, Özgür. (2018). “Romanistanbul: City, Music, and a Transformation Story” Made in Turkey: Studies in Popular Music, Ed. Ali Cenk Gedik: 167-176. New York: Routledge.
  • Aydemir, Murat. (2010). Turkish Music Makam Guide. İstanbul: Pan publishing.
  • Azzam, Nabil S. (1990). Muhammad ‘Abd al-Wahhab in Modern Egyptian Music, PhD Dissertation, University of California, Los Angles: USA.
  • Danielson, Virginia. (1997). The Voice of Egypt: Umm Kulthum, Arabic Song, and Egyptian Society in The Twentieth Century. Chicago: University of Chicago.
  • El-Shawan, Salwa. (1980). “The Socio-Political Context of al-mūsīķa al-Arabiyyah in Cairo, Egypt: Policies, Patronage, Institutions, and Musical Change (1927-77)” Asian Music. 12(1): 86-128.
  • El-Shawan, Salwa. (1984). “Traditional Arab Music Ensembles in Egypt since 1967: "The Continuity of Tradition within a Contemporary Framework"?” Ethnomusicology. 28(2): 271-288.
  • Erol, Ayhan. (2002). Popüler Müziği Anlamak [Understanding Popular Music]. İstanbul: Bağlam publishing.
  • Güngör, Nazife. (1990). Sosyokültürel Açıdan Arabesk Müzik [Arabesk Music from a Sociocultural Perspective]. Ankara: Bilgi publishing.
  • Işık, Caner; Erol, Nuran. (2002). Arabeskin Anlam Dünyası: Müslüm Gürses Örneği [Meaning World of Arabesk: The Case of Müslüm Gürses]. İstanbul: Bağlam.
  • Karahasanoğlu, Songül, and G. Skoog. (2009). "Synthesizing Identity: Gestures of Filiation and Affiliation in Turkish Popular Music" Asian Music. No. 40(2): 52 – 71.
  • Küçükkaplan, Uğur. (2013). Arabesk: Toplumsal ve Müzikal Analiz [Arabesk: A Social and Musical Analysis], İstanbul: Ayrıntı publishing.
  • Manuel, Peter. (1986). “Modal Harmony in Andalusian, Eastern European, and Turkish Syncretic Musics” Yearbook of Traditional Music. 21: 70-94.
  • Meriç, Murat. (2006). Pop Dedik: Türkçe Sözlü Hafif Batı Müziği [We Call It Pop: Light Music in Turkish]. İstanbul: İletişim publishing.
  • Özbek, Meral. (1991). Popüler Kültür ve Orhan Gencebay Arabeski [Popular Culture and Orhan Gencebay’s Arabesk]. İstanbul: İletişim publishing.
  • Racy, Ali Jihad. (2004). Making music in the Arab world: the Culture and Artistry of Tarab. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Seeman, Sonia Tamar. (2002). “You’re Roman!”: Music and Identity in Turkish Roman Communities” PhD Thesis, University of California, Los Angles: USA.
  • Seeman, Sonya Tamar. (2006). “Presenting Gypsy, Re-Presenting Roman: Towards an Archeology of Aesthetic Production and Social Identity”, Music and Antropology, 11. Retrieved from https://www2.umbc.edu/eol/MA/index/number11/seeman/see_0.htm
  • Seeman, Sonya Tamar. (2019). Sounding Roman: Representation and Performing Identity in Western Turkey. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Stokes, Martin. (1992a). The Arabesk Debate: Music and Musicians in Modern Turkey. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Stokes, Martin. (2010). Republic of Love: Cultural Intimacy in Turkish Popular Music. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  • Şener, Serkan. (2022). “A Birthplace of Turkish Arabesk Music: Abdullah Nail Bayşu’s House”. Proceedings of 7th Symposium of the ICTM Study Group on Music and Dance in Southeastern Europe. 222-227, 23-25 April 2021.
  • Tekelioğlu, Orhan. (1996). “The Rise of a Spontaneous Synthesis: The Historical Background of Turkish Popular Music”, Middle Eastern Studies, 32(2): 194-215.
  • Tekelioğlu, Orhan, (1999). “Ciddi Müzikten Popüler Müziğe Musiki İnkılabının Sonuçları” [Consequences of Music Revolution from Serious Music to Popular Music]. Cumhuriyetin Sesleri, Ed. Gönül Paçacı: 146-153. İstanbul: Tarih Vakfı.
  • Tireli, Münir. (2005). Bir Metamorfoz Hikayesi: Türkiye’de Grup Müziği 1957-1980 [A Story of Metamorphosis: Group Music in Turkey 1957-1980]. İstanbul: Arkaplan Publishing.
  • Yarar, Betül. (2007). Politics Of/And Popular Music: An Analysis of The History of Arabesk Music from the 1960s to the 1990s in Turkey, Cultural Studies, Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 35-79.
  • Yarar, Betül. (2018). “Arabesk: Looking at the History of Popular Meanings and Feelings in Turkey” Made in Turkey: Studies in Popular Music, Ed. Ali Cenk Gedik: 179-192. New York: Routledge.
  • Erakalın, Ülkü [director]. (1973). Dikiz Aynası [Movie]. Karagöz Film Production. Retrived from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkuHYDqoEl0
  • Kuyucu, Michael. (2019). Müziğin Kilometre Taşları [Milestones of Music]. Interview with Biricik Tonguç. CRI Turk [Radio Program]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy72NGEiI_Q [accessed on 02.09.2021].
  • Aracı, Bayram. (2001). Allı Yazma [Compilation CD]. İstanbul: Kalan Records. [https://open.spotify.com/album/7f48TZHLtwastkzyhhBMpM?si=Ri7zrVQ3Rvmro5GWSQFijA] [Accessed on 03.04.2022].
  • Aslangil, Feyzi. (2000). Piyano ile Saz Eserleri ve Taksimler [Instrumental Pieces and Taksim-s with the Piano]. İstanbul: Kalan. https://open.spotify.com/album/12EiybfwdF0Arq1XJd9Lky?si=DBrrXwcGS7uD2TQC8G9XSg&dl_branch=1 [accessed on 30.08.2021]
  • Atlı, Lemi. (1979). Bir Kendi Gibi Zalimi Sevmiş Yanıyormuş [Recorded by Koşan, Mine Koşan] Kahire’de [LP]. Germany: Türküola Records. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9yo_WVCYAk [Accessed on 03.04.2022].
  • Güney, Kerem. (1972). Anlatamıyorum. Anlatamıyorum / Dertte Mesut Ediyor [7 inch single]. İstanbul: Elif Records. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MfLNjI5LYM [accessed on 29.08.2021].
  • İpek, Yılmaz. (1970). İspanyol Pasadoblesi [7 inch single]. İstanbul: Coşkun Records. https://open.spotify.com/track/461noXWevJlnPhmYzgrBg3?si=530cb209ddc140e3 [Accessed on 03.04.2022].
  • İrtel, Altan. (1974). Anlatamıyorum [Recorded by MineKoşan] [7 inch single]. Emek Records. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP2eS7IL38Q [Accessed on 03.04.2022]
  • Mingus, Charles. (1964). Meditations on Integration (Or for a Pair of Wire Cutters). France: Decca Records. https://open.spotify.com/track/2w9V7txmsQrw3wSNrfwxuY?si=2ac64ca2a1d24fc9 [Accessed on 03.04.2022].
  • Sayan, Mustafa. (1987). Mutluluk Diye [Recorded by Mine Koşan]. On Yakında Geleceğim [Audio Casette]. Germany: Türküola Records. https://open.spotify.com/track/4jjqs9zvJmBZnf5zrcTRDM?si=2b76ddfab7fe416f [Accessed on 03.04.2022].
  • Sayan, Mustafa. (1991). Ölüyorum Kederimden [Recorded by Zeki Müren]. Dünden Bugüne 5 [Compilation CD]. İstanbul: Emre Grafson Records.
  • https://open.spotify.com/track/3uDORV0lmku9Bl8HAVnesI?si=e6d7413da62448fd [Accessed on 03.04.2022].
  • Sayan, Mustafa. (1998). Tanrı İstemezse [Recorded by Müslüm Gürses]. Müslüm Gürses Klasikleri [Compilation CD]. İstanbul: Esen Records. https://open.spotify.com/track/21uVCODX6ty2zWuGevQFcX?si=177b8af9bb0947b6 [accessed on 10.08.2021].
  • Sayan, Mustafa. (2015). Seni Yakacaklar [Recorded by İbrahim Tatlıses]. İbrahim Tatlıses Collection [Compilation CD]. Türküola. Records. https://open.spotify.com/track/4IDX4KU7KTNtbhI9vAsziY?si=3635faaeb47e476b [Accessed on 03.04.2022].
  • Tunç, Onno. (1977). Anlatamıyorum [Recorded by Mine Koşan]. Anlatamıyorum [LP]. İstanbul: EMI. https://open.spotify.com/track/2e3vZNykhC6QzJzBJhWGYG?si=0d3d9eda8f584fdd [Accessed on 03.04.2022].
Year 2022, , 169 - 209, 31.12.2022
https://doi.org/10.33906/musicologist.1099343

Abstract

References

  • Akgül, Özgür. (2009). Romanistanbul. İstanbul: Punto publishing.
  • Akgül, Özgür. (2018). “Romanistanbul: City, Music, and a Transformation Story” Made in Turkey: Studies in Popular Music, Ed. Ali Cenk Gedik: 167-176. New York: Routledge.
  • Aydemir, Murat. (2010). Turkish Music Makam Guide. İstanbul: Pan publishing.
  • Azzam, Nabil S. (1990). Muhammad ‘Abd al-Wahhab in Modern Egyptian Music, PhD Dissertation, University of California, Los Angles: USA.
  • Danielson, Virginia. (1997). The Voice of Egypt: Umm Kulthum, Arabic Song, and Egyptian Society in The Twentieth Century. Chicago: University of Chicago.
  • El-Shawan, Salwa. (1980). “The Socio-Political Context of al-mūsīķa al-Arabiyyah in Cairo, Egypt: Policies, Patronage, Institutions, and Musical Change (1927-77)” Asian Music. 12(1): 86-128.
  • El-Shawan, Salwa. (1984). “Traditional Arab Music Ensembles in Egypt since 1967: "The Continuity of Tradition within a Contemporary Framework"?” Ethnomusicology. 28(2): 271-288.
  • Erol, Ayhan. (2002). Popüler Müziği Anlamak [Understanding Popular Music]. İstanbul: Bağlam publishing.
  • Güngör, Nazife. (1990). Sosyokültürel Açıdan Arabesk Müzik [Arabesk Music from a Sociocultural Perspective]. Ankara: Bilgi publishing.
  • Işık, Caner; Erol, Nuran. (2002). Arabeskin Anlam Dünyası: Müslüm Gürses Örneği [Meaning World of Arabesk: The Case of Müslüm Gürses]. İstanbul: Bağlam.
  • Karahasanoğlu, Songül, and G. Skoog. (2009). "Synthesizing Identity: Gestures of Filiation and Affiliation in Turkish Popular Music" Asian Music. No. 40(2): 52 – 71.
  • Küçükkaplan, Uğur. (2013). Arabesk: Toplumsal ve Müzikal Analiz [Arabesk: A Social and Musical Analysis], İstanbul: Ayrıntı publishing.
  • Manuel, Peter. (1986). “Modal Harmony in Andalusian, Eastern European, and Turkish Syncretic Musics” Yearbook of Traditional Music. 21: 70-94.
  • Meriç, Murat. (2006). Pop Dedik: Türkçe Sözlü Hafif Batı Müziği [We Call It Pop: Light Music in Turkish]. İstanbul: İletişim publishing.
  • Özbek, Meral. (1991). Popüler Kültür ve Orhan Gencebay Arabeski [Popular Culture and Orhan Gencebay’s Arabesk]. İstanbul: İletişim publishing.
  • Racy, Ali Jihad. (2004). Making music in the Arab world: the Culture and Artistry of Tarab. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Seeman, Sonia Tamar. (2002). “You’re Roman!”: Music and Identity in Turkish Roman Communities” PhD Thesis, University of California, Los Angles: USA.
  • Seeman, Sonya Tamar. (2006). “Presenting Gypsy, Re-Presenting Roman: Towards an Archeology of Aesthetic Production and Social Identity”, Music and Antropology, 11. Retrieved from https://www2.umbc.edu/eol/MA/index/number11/seeman/see_0.htm
  • Seeman, Sonya Tamar. (2019). Sounding Roman: Representation and Performing Identity in Western Turkey. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Stokes, Martin. (1992a). The Arabesk Debate: Music and Musicians in Modern Turkey. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Stokes, Martin. (2010). Republic of Love: Cultural Intimacy in Turkish Popular Music. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  • Şener, Serkan. (2022). “A Birthplace of Turkish Arabesk Music: Abdullah Nail Bayşu’s House”. Proceedings of 7th Symposium of the ICTM Study Group on Music and Dance in Southeastern Europe. 222-227, 23-25 April 2021.
  • Tekelioğlu, Orhan. (1996). “The Rise of a Spontaneous Synthesis: The Historical Background of Turkish Popular Music”, Middle Eastern Studies, 32(2): 194-215.
  • Tekelioğlu, Orhan, (1999). “Ciddi Müzikten Popüler Müziğe Musiki İnkılabının Sonuçları” [Consequences of Music Revolution from Serious Music to Popular Music]. Cumhuriyetin Sesleri, Ed. Gönül Paçacı: 146-153. İstanbul: Tarih Vakfı.
  • Tireli, Münir. (2005). Bir Metamorfoz Hikayesi: Türkiye’de Grup Müziği 1957-1980 [A Story of Metamorphosis: Group Music in Turkey 1957-1980]. İstanbul: Arkaplan Publishing.
  • Yarar, Betül. (2007). Politics Of/And Popular Music: An Analysis of The History of Arabesk Music from the 1960s to the 1990s in Turkey, Cultural Studies, Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 35-79.
  • Yarar, Betül. (2018). “Arabesk: Looking at the History of Popular Meanings and Feelings in Turkey” Made in Turkey: Studies in Popular Music, Ed. Ali Cenk Gedik: 179-192. New York: Routledge.
  • Erakalın, Ülkü [director]. (1973). Dikiz Aynası [Movie]. Karagöz Film Production. Retrived from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkuHYDqoEl0
  • Kuyucu, Michael. (2019). Müziğin Kilometre Taşları [Milestones of Music]. Interview with Biricik Tonguç. CRI Turk [Radio Program]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy72NGEiI_Q [accessed on 02.09.2021].
  • Aracı, Bayram. (2001). Allı Yazma [Compilation CD]. İstanbul: Kalan Records. [https://open.spotify.com/album/7f48TZHLtwastkzyhhBMpM?si=Ri7zrVQ3Rvmro5GWSQFijA] [Accessed on 03.04.2022].
  • Aslangil, Feyzi. (2000). Piyano ile Saz Eserleri ve Taksimler [Instrumental Pieces and Taksim-s with the Piano]. İstanbul: Kalan. https://open.spotify.com/album/12EiybfwdF0Arq1XJd9Lky?si=DBrrXwcGS7uD2TQC8G9XSg&dl_branch=1 [accessed on 30.08.2021]
  • Atlı, Lemi. (1979). Bir Kendi Gibi Zalimi Sevmiş Yanıyormuş [Recorded by Koşan, Mine Koşan] Kahire’de [LP]. Germany: Türküola Records. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9yo_WVCYAk [Accessed on 03.04.2022].
  • Güney, Kerem. (1972). Anlatamıyorum. Anlatamıyorum / Dertte Mesut Ediyor [7 inch single]. İstanbul: Elif Records. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MfLNjI5LYM [accessed on 29.08.2021].
  • İpek, Yılmaz. (1970). İspanyol Pasadoblesi [7 inch single]. İstanbul: Coşkun Records. https://open.spotify.com/track/461noXWevJlnPhmYzgrBg3?si=530cb209ddc140e3 [Accessed on 03.04.2022].
  • İrtel, Altan. (1974). Anlatamıyorum [Recorded by MineKoşan] [7 inch single]. Emek Records. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP2eS7IL38Q [Accessed on 03.04.2022]
  • Mingus, Charles. (1964). Meditations on Integration (Or for a Pair of Wire Cutters). France: Decca Records. https://open.spotify.com/track/2w9V7txmsQrw3wSNrfwxuY?si=2ac64ca2a1d24fc9 [Accessed on 03.04.2022].
  • Sayan, Mustafa. (1987). Mutluluk Diye [Recorded by Mine Koşan]. On Yakında Geleceğim [Audio Casette]. Germany: Türküola Records. https://open.spotify.com/track/4jjqs9zvJmBZnf5zrcTRDM?si=2b76ddfab7fe416f [Accessed on 03.04.2022].
  • Sayan, Mustafa. (1991). Ölüyorum Kederimden [Recorded by Zeki Müren]. Dünden Bugüne 5 [Compilation CD]. İstanbul: Emre Grafson Records.
  • https://open.spotify.com/track/3uDORV0lmku9Bl8HAVnesI?si=e6d7413da62448fd [Accessed on 03.04.2022].
  • Sayan, Mustafa. (1998). Tanrı İstemezse [Recorded by Müslüm Gürses]. Müslüm Gürses Klasikleri [Compilation CD]. İstanbul: Esen Records. https://open.spotify.com/track/21uVCODX6ty2zWuGevQFcX?si=177b8af9bb0947b6 [accessed on 10.08.2021].
  • Sayan, Mustafa. (2015). Seni Yakacaklar [Recorded by İbrahim Tatlıses]. İbrahim Tatlıses Collection [Compilation CD]. Türküola. Records. https://open.spotify.com/track/4IDX4KU7KTNtbhI9vAsziY?si=3635faaeb47e476b [Accessed on 03.04.2022].
  • Tunç, Onno. (1977). Anlatamıyorum [Recorded by Mine Koşan]. Anlatamıyorum [LP]. İstanbul: EMI. https://open.spotify.com/track/2e3vZNykhC6QzJzBJhWGYG?si=0d3d9eda8f584fdd [Accessed on 03.04.2022].
There are 42 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Music
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Serkan Şener 0000-0002-2169-3104

Belma Oğul 0000-0002-5042-6953

Robert Reigle 0000-0002-8356-8499

Publication Date December 31, 2022
Published in Issue Year 2022

Cite

APA Şener, S., Oğul, B., & Reigle, R. (2022). Re-Evaluating the Roots of Arabesk Music: Grup Metronom. Musicologist, 6(2), 169-209. https://doi.org/10.33906/musicologist.1099343