A study on the literary and musical aspects of Tahtacı Alevi ritual dances in the Manisa region

Tahtacılar are a community engaged in woodworking, as implied by their name and believed to have migrated from Central Asia to Anatolia. They reside in the southern and western coastal areas of Anatolia and are predominantly known to be an inward-looking and relatively closed community. The Tahtacı Alevi community living in Anatolia, has drawn the attention of many researchers due to their ethnic origin and their secretive religious practices. Although Anatolian Alevism and Tahtacı Alevism share similarities in their rituals and various aspects, there are minor differences in the nomenclature and categorization of their "cem" ceremonies, mainly due to the nomadic lifestyle of the Tahtacı community. While "cem" ceremonies are referred to as "görgü" and "birlik cemi" in Anatolian Alevism, Tahtacı Alevism uses the terms "içeri" and "dışarı cem" to distinguish between internal and external aspects of the ceremonies. Furthermore, the "semah" dances performed during these "cem" ceremonies differ, as circular movements are observed in Anatolian Alevi semahs, whereas Tahtacı semahs involve reciprocal movements. Additionally, there are minor differences in terms of musical rhythm and the figures performed during semah dances. This study examines the origins of the Tahtacı community, their places of residence in Anatolia, and their "cem" ceremonies. Seven semahs from the Manisa region, collected and recorded in the TRT (Turkish Radio and Television Corporation) repertoire, have been identified. These semahs have been analyzed in terms of their literary aspects and their musical aspects have been examined in terms of structure and form based on melodic composition.