Musical dynamics of Hemshin cultural identity

This study explores Hemshin cultural and musical identity in the context ofdialectics of unity and diversity. Along with cultural identity, the term authenticityhas been served as an analytical tool. Thus, it might be argued that the purpose ofthe study is to examine hemshin musical identity through a couple of analyticalconcepts such as cultural identity, authenticity, and appropriation.Needless to say the music is seldom stable in the context of social change.Migration had a profound effect upon patterns of musical production, patronage, andconsumption in Hemshin community. Accordingly this thesis investigates musicalpractices of the Hemshin, especially of Hemşin horon performance (a traditional folkdance in the region of the Eastern Black Sea) not only `at home? but also abroad (asa case study in Izmir).