Ulvi Cemal Erkin's life, analysis of Five Drops and Feelings

Following the foundation of the Turkish Republic, music was affected by reforms that were made in the fields of art and culture. Ulvi Cemal Erkin is one of the first generation of composers of the Republic, who endeavoured to improve and extend Turkish Modern Music. Through combining traditional components with Classical Western forms, Erkin created an authentic musical language. Erkin's pieces also have an important role in piano repertoire. This research provides harmonic, melodic, textural and formal analysis of his solo piano pieces entitled "Beş Damla" (1931) and "Duyuşlar" (1937). The first chapter supplies a brief biography of Ulvi Cemal Erkin with the purpose of placing his compositions in historical perspective. A chronogical list of his works and also his musical language are discussed under two subtopics: Nationalism and Impressionism. The second chapter includes an analysis of "Beş Damla" (Five Drops), and the third chapter has a deep analysis of all the movements of "Duyuşlar" (Impressions).