Yakapınar example of the music culture of the Tahtaci Turkmen of İzmir

When examining the cultural history of the communities present in our country today, it is possible to encounter many cultures that have persisted. There are communities that have arrived in Anatolia through migration as well as those that have lived in Anatolian lands from the outset. The concept of migration has led to situations such as cultural exchange and the transmission of culture. As a result of these influential factors, there are cultures that have undergone changes, adapting to their current forms, and cultures that have sought to preserve their values by living as closed societies for extended periods. One of the communities that has endeavored to preserve its cultural values by adopting a closed way of life for many years is the Tahtacı. Tahtacıs, who sustain their lives in many parts of our country, generally prefer to live in remote, mountainous, and forested areas, away from mainstream society. It can be said that the Tahtacı, living in seclusion, have their unique music practices. In this study, the contributions of the Tahtacı, known for their contributions to Turkish folk music, and the compositions gathered from the Tahtacı village were attempted to be explained under the title of music practices. A compilation study conducted in Yakapınar Village, located in the Bayındır district of Izmir, one of the Tahtacı villages, resulted in reaching 11 compositions. These compositions were transcribed into notation and analyzed under headings such as makam, rhythm etc. Among the compiled compositions, 7 were in the style of "uzun hava" (long melody) and 4 were in the style of "kırık hava" (broken melody). Research conducted reveals that studies have been carried out on Tahtacıs in the literature review. The aim of conducting this study was due to the belief that the Tahtacı, who have lived as a closed society for many years, have undiscovered music. The objectives were to access the undiscovered compositions of the Tahtacı, who are among the values of our country, and to support studies focusing on the Tahtacı. In this study, a mixed research model was adopted. Throughout the study, qualitative research methods such as literature review, historical research, and field research were employed. As a result of this research, it can be said that the music practices of Tahtacıs are unique and that they have made significant contributions to Turkish folk music. Additionally, it was discovered that in some Tahtacı villages in the Izmir region, Tahtacı music is still traditionally performed. Efforts were made to reach these performances in ongoing villages, recording and documenting them in written form to ensure the preservation of Tahtacı culture.