Hungarian composer Béla Bartók visits Turkey
Renowned Hungarian composer and folk music researcher Béla Bartók arrived in Turkey on November 7, 1936 as the guest of Ankara People’s House per Atatürk’s request to study the roots of Turkish folk music. After giving a conference at the Ankara People’s House, Bartók traveled to Kayseri and Çorum, followed by Adana, Mersin, and Osmaniye. Recording sounds and studying folk songs, Béla Bartók, was accompanied by Ahmed Adnan Saygun during his travels.
Bartók recounts his experience in Turkey as follows:
Nearly two years ago, the official circles in Turkey began to organize music instruction along European lines with the help and guidance of Paul Hindemith. However, they did not have a consultant that would explain how Turkish national music would have to be built upon its roots in Turkish folk music…
The Ankara branch of the People’s Houses decided to invite me for that purpose… Needless to say, I accepted the invitation with great pleasure, as I knew absolutely nothing about Turkish folk music (Turkish rural music) at the time… I was rather curious if there was any connection between Turkish folk music and the Hungarian folk music of Asian origin.
Composer Ahmet Adnan Bey was assigned by the People’s House to accompany me during my travels. Apart from him, Necil Kâzım Bey and Ulvi Cemal Bey, both professors of composition at the Ankara Conservatory, traveled with us upon the request of the Ministry of Education to see how local tunes were recompiled… I still get sentimental when I remember that journey, as they were such wonderful hosts and showed such great interest in us.
