The tradition of iklik and musical narratives in the nomads of the Anamas Region

The Anamas Region, one of the areas where nomadic Yoruk communities in Anatolia reside, has a unique musical culture developed around the tradition of "ıklık," a musical instrument mentioned in historical sources. Historically, the migration and settlement of Turkmen tribes in Anatolia began during the Beylik Period and continued during the Anatolian Seljuk and Ottoman Periods. From the recent past to the present, the Yoruks, commonly referred to as nomadic Turkmen in the provinces of Konya, Isparta, and Antalya and their surroundings, have mostly chosen the Anamas Region and its plateaus to continue their seasonal migration activities. Therefore, Anamas, predominantly used as summer pastures by many Yoruk tribes in these regions, has become a common space actively involved in preserving and transmitting the culture and traditions of Yoruks' social life. The vocal performances and instruments that constitute the music culture of the Anamas region have been shaped within the natural living conditions and shepherding culture of the area. The effects of the connection established with animals, both living and inanimate beings in nature, and especially related to shepherding, have been reflected in the vocal, rhythmic, and melodic structure of music, as well as the form and performance of instruments. Under these conditions, music and instruments have acquired new meanings in society's memory over time and space, with different functions. In Yoruk life, music serves various individual and social functions, such as passing time while herding animals, expressing emotions, communicating with the opposite sex, directing animals, and enjoying and entertaining at weddings and gatherings. Additionally, music is a cultural tool for enjoyment and reminiscence among the Yoruks, rarely chosen as a profession. The tunes, lyrics, and stories in the memories of ıklık performers, the oral and instrumental boğaz havaları (throat melodies) performed by Yoruk women using their throats like an instrument, examples of epic-storytelling thought to be transferred from Central Asian poetic traditions to the Yoruks, and all tunes related to dance have been examined under the title of "musical narratives" in this study. Musical narratives, including various elements and mythical components related to the highland and shepherd culture, have been transmitted by ıklık players who play a role in carrying the cultural memory, resulting in the formation of the "ıklık tradition" in the region. The study employs an ethnographic method (cultural analysis) based on over ten years of field experience and compilation studies and a model of "oral history/narrative analysis." As a result of this research, it has been observed that the ıklık instrument is performed mostly by Yoruks migrating to the plateaus in the Anamas Region and the settlement areas around the migration routes. Important figures from the past and current ıklık performers were identified, and "personal interviews" were conducted. In addition, data on ıklık playing and the ıklık tradition were collected through "observation" and "participant observation," and audio and video recordings were made. Furthermore, a "literature review" was conducted to access information mentioned in historical sources and previous research data on the ıklık instrument. In addition to this, literature related to bowed instruments in Central Asian Turkic cultures with similarities to the ıklık instrument was also reviewed. In addition to data related to musicology and ethnographic studies, the study compares and analyzes recordings of works that constitute the repertoire of Anamas music culture, obtained from various sources. These melodies were classified by analyzing their form, content, and performance characteristics. The collected data, obtained through different methods, were analyzed using "content analysis" and "comparative method." Therefore, the study aims to contribute to various fields such as musicology, organology, music ethnography, and folk music repertoire by providing new findings and insights specific to the field. Keywords: Anamas Region, yoruk culture, ıklık, ıklık tradition, throat playing, musical narratives.