THE STATUS AND SIGNIFICANCE OF BAGLAMA IN THE CULTURAL IDENTITY OF ALEVI COMMUNITY


While numerous civilizations could not survive in time throughout the history, Alevi culture maintains its existence and in this regard, the instrument bağlama played a primary role in its transfer to other generations. Alevi-music is founded on the unity of bağlama and lyrics. Having passed beyond its instrumental character, baglama played a very important historical role in the preservation, reproduction, transferring and reconstitution of the cultural identity of Alevi communities. Alevi-Bektashi teachings has illuminated the world of thought of the mankind with the principle and philosophy of “My Kaaba is the human”, based on tolerance, and in an understanding of idea and faith open to evolution in life In this context, the primary goal of this work is to demonstrate how baglama became an intermediary instrument between forms of art and the purpose to be İnsan-ı Kâmil [Perfect Human] as Alevi doctrines taught for centuries. The information and data in this study were gathered by different methodologies such as literature reviewing, participant and controlled observations. The sacred and venerable status of this instrument in Alevi culture clearly shows itself in phrases like “Telli Kur’an” [Stringed Quran], "aşığın sözü Kur’anın özü” [minstrel’s word is Quran’s essence], “ayn-i cem bülbülü” [nightingale of cem rituals] that linking baglama with holy book of Islam and rituals in Alevi religion. Baglama has been the primary tool to transfer cultural memory through oral culture and at the same time allowed people to express themselves, to socialize, to communicate, to think and to share their thoughts with others. For centuries baglama was a crucial element in the self-expression of Alevi community and reproduction of this culture. In fact, this instrument became the thinking mind and crying heart of its community. In the light of collected data, it is clearly seen that baglama has a significant role in the generation of Anatolian Alevi culture, in transfer of its teachings and their reconstruction.


Keywords


Bağlama, Alevi Culture, Alevi Music, Cultural Identity.

Author : Yusuf BENLİ
Number of pages: 2069-2084
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.29228/TurkishStudies.32673
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Turkish Studies-Social Sciences
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