Mehmet Erenler: His life and artistic personality

This study examines the life story and musical contributions of Mehmet Erenler, one of the master figures of Turkish Folk Music, within the framework of his artistic identity. The cultural environment in which the artist was raised, his early relationship with music, and the performance approach he developed throughout his journey to mastery constitute the main focus of this research. Within the scope of the thesis, 21 folk songs selected from Erenler's repertoire were analyzed from a musical perspective. These works were evaluated in terms of their finalis (karar sesi), modal structure (makam), rhythmic patterns (usul), regional origins, and musical genres, allowing for a comprehensive analytical process. The findings revealed that certain finalis tones were more prominent in the songs, while the diversity of makams reflected the traditional structure of Turkish Folk Music. In terms of rhythm, the pieces were found to exhibit both regular metrical patterns and free-performance characteristics. Regarding regional distribution, the folk songs represent various regions of Anatolia, each reflecting its own distinctive musical character. In terms of genre, the works were predominantly identified as long air (uzun hava) and broken air (kırık hava) forms. During the determination of the study's scope, works belonging to the zeybek genre were excluded from detailed examination in order to ensure a more focused and systematic analytical approach. The findings demonstrate that Mehmet Erenler is an artist who preserves the traditional elements of Turkish Folk Music while enriching them through his unique interpretation and performance style. This study aims both to contribute to a better understanding of the artist's musical identity and to serve as a resource for future academic research in the field of Turkish Folk Music.