The deadlock of nation state: The problem of nationalisation of music during the early republican era in Turkey

Abstract

From the early 1930s onwards, there has been an evolution of policies concerning music in Turkey based on the ends, which were targeted through cultural planning and national cultural building. The new republican regime that stood distant to tradition, tried to establish a national music, carrying the legacy of Tanzimat reform era; a music that is nationalist in character but based on major western influences. This period also reflects a time, which a major debate started within the intelligentsia regarding the place of music in state policies, radio broadcasting and education. In fact, this debate had surfaced the bitter discussion upon the cultural evolution, which started during the mid-19th century. Direct intervention by Mustafa Kemal in the search of a national music revealed this art form, in fact, was a major symbol in the process of building the new national character. The so called “Music revolution” as appeared in the written texts of the time, left deep influences on both public life and musical culture of the new nation. This paper aims to present the building of the nationalist character of the music during the early republican era of Turkey in relevance with the usage of political instruments and their reflections on public life. The article will also assess the Turkish experience in terms of 20th century nationalist culture building processes.