A study of the Manuscript No. 12947: The Suğul and Hymn Collection in the Koyunoğlu Museum and Library

In this thesis, a güfte mecmuası (lyrics collection) registered under inventory number 12947 at the Koyunoğlu Museum and Library has been examined. This manuscript holds a unique position as it includes works in both the şuğul and ilâhî forms. The study evaluates the historical significance of this mecmua in the context of Turkish music history and offers valuable insights into the religious music repertoire of the period, the relationship between lyricists and lyrics, and the tradition of compiling such collections. The mecmua under investigation serves as an important source that contributed to the written preservation of musical knowledge transmitted through the meşk method, especially in periods when musical notation was not widely used. It contains essential information such as makam (mode), usul (rhythmic pattern), musical forms, and the names of the lyricists. The study also includes a classification of different types of güfte mecmuas, providing an overview of ilâhî mecmuas and şuğul mecmuas. Ilâhî mecmuas, which emerged especially from the 17th century onwards, are collections featuring various forms of religious music. Şuğul mecmuas, on the other hand, include religious lyrics in Arabic set to classical Turkish music using traditional makam and usul structures. The analyzed manuscript, containing a large number of şuğuls, stands out as a rich example of its type and also offers a noteworthy ilâhî repertoire. As such, the güfte mecmuası examined in this thesis functions as a cultural bridge between the past and the future, and represents a significant reference source for understanding the Turkish religious music tradition.