A comperactive study on the musical treatises of Ibn Khordadhbeh

This research under the headline of A comperactive Study on the Musical Treatises of İbn Khordadhbeh; comprises Introduction, 3 sections and the conclusion. In the introduction, the significance of the study and the purpose, panorama of studies covering Ibn Khordadhbeh, the content of this study, and the methodological approach of the analysis are indicated. Additionally, there has been an inquiry about shedding light upon Ibn Khordadhbeh's thought. First Section, comprises the life, scholarly personal, attended duties, works and value he acquired under the term of interim ruler Al-Mo'temid of Ibn Khordadhbeh. Second Section, his work of Al-Muhtâr min Kitâbi'l-Lehvi ve'l-Melâhî which is the focus of this thesis is analyzed in terms of its content. In this context, Ibn Khordadhbeh's style of expression, the arguments he used for his favorable approach to music, attitude of philosophers and prominent statesman towards music (Samah, Gına, Taarab etc.), and proof about Gına's significance are demonstrated. Likewise, which kinds of musical instruments are used in the countries that are the inventors of music instruments, Arabs, Hindus, Greeks, and Byzantines; the effect of music on human brain and heart, its positive impact on animals and patients, types of îkâ' and news about singers and the section for female musicians are analyzed. There are two comparisons in the Third Section: First, Kitâb Al-Malâhî ve Asmâihâ min Kibeli Al-Mûsîkâ of Al-Mofaddal b. Salama (d.290 or 300) and Al-Muhtâr min Kitâbi'l-Lehvi ve'l-Malâhî of Ibn Khordadhbeh (d.280 or 300) are compared in terms of content and the matching and divergence subjects are demonstrated. Second, Al-Muhtâr min Kitâb Al-Lehv ve'l-Malâhî is compared in terms of size and content with his conversation with Al-Mo'temid and it is indicated that these two compositions are two different works. Conclusion, comprises of a general evaluation of the inferences made through this research and assertions reached at the end of it.