Common Turkish-Greek melodies rendered in Aegean Region

Many people living in different societies and continents have been able to communicate through the power o music. This melodic union has allowed countries to establish cultural compainship with each other in terms of international relations. In this thesis, the extent to which Turkey and Greece have influenced each other melodically with in the borders of the Aegean Region has been evaluated. The purpose here is to identify the shared melodies that build up cultural bonds and determine how these melodies reflect the unity of the two countries. Firstly, in this study, the connection between culture and music was examined. Next, the importance of the identity formation was discussed and some background information about Greece and the Aegean Region was introduced. Along with these factors, the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey, which significantly impacted the socio-cultural migration between the two countries, the Lausanne Peace Treaty and the subsequent events were investigated. Music genres such as rebetiko and zeybek, which have resonated on both shores, were analyzed. The common melodies belonging to the Aegean Region transferred from Anatolia to Greece, as well as the common folk songs and songs that have become popular even if they do not belong to that region, were researched to highlight the awareness created in the name of friendship and peace to emphasize the cultural reconciliation between societies. The research concludes that the joint Turkish-Greek have created a shared space in both countries. These songs have transcended borders, fostering cultural understanding and integration between the two nations, thereby creating a common language between the two nations.