Music in Kocaeli province from the second constitutional period to the Republic (1908-1998)

ABSTRACT It is possible to say that music activities were organized in five titles as a result of this study, where Kocaeli city musical experiences were searched in the light of periodical developments from the 2nd Constitutional Period (1908-1998) to the Republic. During the period from 1908 until the National Struggle, musicals related to daily life and faith-based music experiences of minorities living in İzmit Sanjak were determined. During the research process, among the minorities in this period, especially Armenians were the community about whose musical experiences the most information was reached. The establishment of the Heveskâran Musikî Society, the first music society founded by the Turks during this period, is the most important development of the era. In the period of National Struggle (1914-1921), the military and civil bands that attended the welcoming ceremonies and played anthems reflecting the spirit of national struggle in the city came to the fore in terms of musical experiences. Particularly, the band that participated in the ceremonies during Mustafa Kemal Pasha's visit to the city included anthems strengthening the fighting spirit of the period in their repertoire. With the Republican period, the music life in Kocaeli started to develop with diversity. In the single-party period consisting of Atatürk and İnönü periods (1923-1950), structuring in line with music revolution which nation-state ideology directed was seen in the name of music. Especially İzmit Community Center and Arifiye Village Institute organized music events that created an impact. In the music courses opened in İzmit Community Center, trainings for western musical instruments were realized by free courses and concerts were held with the participants. It was also seen that concerts given by the "Choir" and "Orchestra" ensembles created in İzmit Community Center contributed to urban music life. It was observed that in the Community Centers opened in the other districts of Kocaeli, various music events were organized. In Kocaeli Arifiye Village Institute, it was seen that the village institute gave place to musical activities in the direction of general aims of the music courses, organized concerts in the city and contributed to the formation of a cultural bond between the village and the city. With the transition to multi-party life after 1950, it was seen that music experiences were also organized in various institutions and structures and took place in urban life. Kocaeli, one of the cities with the most migrants to the city with the changing sociological structure of Turkey, witnessed the concerts of pop music groups that were influenced by the music trends throughout the country and exhibited the group music tradition which reflects the period spirit in popular music field. With a general classification of these periods, the activities can be grouped as follows: 1. Associations and music events organized through associations, 2. Festivals organized and music events included in the festivals, 3. Music events in collective events organized by local governments (wedding, circumcision, opening etc.), 4.Musical activities performed by industrial organizations in their structures with the purpose of contribution to social life, 5. Public Concerts organized in Kocaeli Fair. Within the associations, Izmit Turkish Music Association, Yarımca Cinema and Arts Association and Kocaeli Higher Education Association shaped the city's music life with the music events and concerts they organized. The types of music were mainly classical western music and Turkish music. It was observed that musical experiences were given a wide coverage in the festivals and other activities organized by local governments. It was seen that the industrial establishments in Kocaeli, which is one of the most important cities of Turkey as an industrial city, also supported the social life of the city and the musical activities and organized concerts and music events. When Kocaeli Fair, which was first opened as an industry fair, also gained the identity of a culture and entertainment fair, concerts of famous musicians in every kind of music in the name of popular music were held in the public concerts organized during the fair. During the Early Republican Period, People's Houses, Village Institute; Has been influential in music life. Along with multi-party periods, Associations, festivals, local administrations, industrial establishments and public concerts in the exhibition area can be said to constitute Kocaeli City Republican Music Experience. Kocaeli folk songs that are also in TRT repertuar were given place in the study. Three folks songs, which are not in TRT repertuar, origin from Karamürsel provience are also in the study. In conclusion, in this study performed to determine the musical experiences of Kocaeli province from empire period to nation-state, it has been determined that there is a music life living and evolving with the city and a culture in the name of music has been formed.