Assyrian music in Mardin in the context of cultural identity

With the help of King Abgarbeing the first Christian ruler, the Assyrians who have a history of 6000 years, gave their community the name "Assyrian", which came from Syria in order to distinguish themselves from idolatry. This community has existed for centuries in the region known as Mesopotamia, which was home to many races and states in its past. As a manifestation of multiculturalism, the birth of music among the Assyrian soccurred when the Assyrians, who had established an empire in ancient Mesopotamia, entered the church with a religious identity. Consecration ceremonies, baptisms and liturgical music in the church are a part of Assyrian music. As in many communities, Assyrians were greatly interested in various arts and music. The problem of the research is how music plays a role from past to present in the construction of the cultural identity of the Assyrians living in the central region of Mardin. This research aims to create a resource for the field by recording and describing the religious and non-religious music practices of the Assyrians living in the Mardin region in the historical process, in the context of cultural identity. Mardin region has been a transit point where many ethnic and religious groups lived side by side for thousands of years. The popular Assyrian music produced today is based on the rich accumulation and heritage of the Assyrian church. The lack of a systematic resource on the subject reveals the significance of this research. Keywords: Cultural Identity, Assyrian, Mardin, Music, Practice.