Pythagorean Wisdom and Turkish Makams Mesk in the last century

PDF note • Some slides in the presentation are complex and involve many parts which come and go. • Hence I have split the complex slides into parts so that the overall purpose of each slide becomes clearer. • Some comments have also been introduced to make the PDF clearer to follow.

PYTHAGOREAN WISDOM IN TURKISH MAKAMS MEŞK IN THE LAST CENTURY Half a lifetime’s learning in the Meşk tradition of Turkey Self-discovery through music Dr. Alan Wenham-Prosser D.Prof. , MA.

FIRST SUBJECT Meşk Master – Pupil Tradition

What is Meşk in Music? Meşk is a face to face system for ensuring that musicians emulate their master’s skills and knowledge in the art of music. It requires no books. Its aim is for the student to discover his / herself through discipline. The eternal question, “Who am I ?”

What is Meşk in Music?

My teacher Necdet Yaşar Master of the Makam system Master of the tanbur. Played often at Konya Mevlevi th gatherings 17 December Master in the art of Taksim Was taught through Meşk system A man who knew himself.

My teacher Necdet Yaşar Taught me and my daughter , face to face 74 Makams (musical modes) over 8 years.

second SUBJECT ORIGINS OF EASTERN MUSIC INCLUDING TURKISH MUSIC

RAUF YEKTA BEY

RAUF YEKTA BEY • Turkish Mevlevi musicologist & neyzen. • From his 1921 book “La Musique Turk” • “--- Farabi, a Muslim Scholar, grounded Eastern music in Greek theory.----” • “--The Pythagoreans originated the basic division of the octave as 2:1, 3:2, 4:3, 5:4 etc. For them everything was numbers; even the construction of the Universe.---”

Many centuries ago - a great teacher From an ancient line of gurus. After 40 years of travel and study. Discovered his True Self Using mathematics and music. Founded an ashram community. Taught vegetarianism & reincarnation and a contemplative life Trained disciples in sacred knowledge; uniting the human soul with the Divine.

POWer OF MATHEMATICS PITHA-GURU = FATHER TEACHER a great mathematician

POWer OF MATHEMATICS PITHA-GURU = PYTHAGORAS also a great musician and a great philosopher

JOURNEY OF MUSIC Pythagoras took music from India and Egypt to Anatolia, then to Italy; then to Greece. After it spread throughout European countries; but became modified and simplified.

JOURNEY OF MUSIC ↑Tanbur like instrument Egyptian wall painting,

JOURNEY OF MUSIC ↑Davut Ney Egyptian wall painting,

JOURNEY OF MUSIC Due to the effect of the Greek Empire the Greek music theory travelled to the Middle East.

JOURNEY OF MUSIC Al Kindi : Al Farabi : Ibn Sina : Safi al Din Seljuk Seljuk Seljuk Mohgul Great men who translated Greek theory into Arabic scripts and continued the meşk system in their music schools.

JOURNEY OF MUSIC DuringTimurid and Ottoman times the music system came to mainland Turkey. .

Pythagoras’ vision of music from - - “Music, Mysticism and Magic” by J. Godwin “Pythagoras related that his Soul rose as far as the higher world. Due to the purity of his being and to the divinatory power of his heart, he heard the melodies of the Spheres and the sonorities produced by the movements of the heavenly bodies; At the same time he became aware of the discreet resonance of the voices of their Angels." = Makam Angel = Indian Goddess Saraswati

Saraswati is the Goddess of both devotion & knowledge This means both art and science are made into one thing. Music is this kind of art.

Prayer beads indicate devotion. Scripture scroll indicates knowledge

Joining of left and right hands on the vina. This indicates that music combines science and

In the Yoga Vasistha it says – Saraswati is the wisdom that shines in the hearts of all. She is the intelligence of all. She is the Self of all.

Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to the mysterious tune, played in the distance by an invisible flute player. Einstein We rarely hear the inner music, but even so we are all dancing to it. Rumi

Pythagoras’ DiscovEriEs Pythagoras treated men and women as equals But are they equal? In one thing they are not.

Pythagoras’ DiscovEriEs If you ask a man and a woman to imitate a musical note There’s one octave = 2:1 bewteen their pitches. Hence the octave 2:1 is the first natural harmony

THIRD SUBJECT ORIGINS OF MUSIC + BEAUTY IN MATHEMATICS

BEAUTY IN MATHEMATICS How they all fit inside each other RATIOS 2:1 = twice the vibrations 3:2 = 1½ times the vibrations 4:3 = 11/3 times the vibrations 5:4 = 1¼ ; 3:1 = 3 times etc. Commas To avoid the use of ratios commas are used. 2:1 = octave = 53 commas

BEAUTY IN MATHEMATICS How they all fit inside each other The melody is a single melodic line with no real use of chords. Called Just Intonation Necdet Yaşar taught with commas, not ratios

BEAUTY IN MATHEMATICS How they all fit inside each other The melody is a single melodic line with no real use of chords. Called Just Intonation Necdet Yaşar taught with commas, not ratios

BEAUTY IN MATHEMATICS How they all fit inside each other

BEAUTY IN MATHEMATICS How they all fit inside each other I call these Causal intervals. These two systems, Just Intonation and Causal form all the notes in the Makam system. Intervals as small as 256:255 or 243:241 pass from being heard to being felt. Here music crosses from knowledge to devotion

FOURTH SUBJECT PYTHAGORAS’ USE OF HIS DISCOVERIES

Pythagoras’ DiscovEriEs Pythagoras’ system was taught by word of mouth only; For centuries. This is Meşk.

Pythagoras’ DiscovEriEs The interval of the middle third = ½ of the perfect 5th is special – more about that later.

Pythagoras’ DiscovEriEs Due to UK academic rules, Meşk proved difficult to be accepted. The boxed intervals were proved other than by the meşk system, from German discoveries

FIFTH SUBJECT GERMAN PHYSIOLOGY DISCOVERIES

OTHER SOURCES - HELMHOLTZ

OTHER SOURCES - HELMHOLTZ Hermann Helmholtz 1821 to 1894 German Physicist Psychologist Researched intervals Interesting results

OTHER SOURCES - HELMHOLTZ roughness 0 0 smoothness

SIXTH SUBJECT Meşk & TANBURI CEMIL BEY

20th CENTURY MEŞK Cemil Bey was an important part of the many centuries of oral tradition.

TANBURİ CEMİL BEY Cemil’s son Mesut Cemil followed his father’s path. Mesut was the teacher of Necdet Yaşar.

TANBURİ CEMİL BEY Cemil to Mesut and to Necdet: is a part of a meşk line that goes back many centuries across the Middle East

SEVENTH SUBJECT TANBUR NECK EVIDENCE

NECK OF TURKISH TANBUR Hence many Pythagorean notes went missing after the 1930’s This was due to the Ezgi/Arel notation system not able to accommodate all the notes.

NECK OF TURKISH TANBUR A researcher from the USA recorded this in 1972 in his doctorate treatise called Makam The tanbur neck looked like this in 1970s. From Karl Signel’s book called Makam

NECK OF TURKISH TANBUR But Necdet Yaşar’s tanbur neck looked like this in the 1970’s. No notes missing

NECK OF TURKISH TANBUR Due to the Meşk system the Pythagorean notes were all retained. But not in the main stream Ezgi / Arel system.

From a Makam lesson recording [Necdet] Saba family – when I am going in the descending position, I am sliding – like this Uşşak. 2, 2 ½ ,3 commas; Before I play the theory (book) Re flat 4 commas; [plays] it is wrong for me; it is not Saba; it can be only a musical joke; not music. [plays correct interval]

[Necdet] Saba family – when I am going the descending The interval of position, I am sliding – like the middle third this Uşşak. 2, 2 ½ ,3 commas; = 11½ commas or Before I play the theory (book) less; is found the Re flat 4 commas; [plays] it is Necdet hasSaba; it wrongway for me; it is not described can be only a musical joke; not music. [plays correct interval]

EIGHTH SUBJECT RAUF YEKTA BEY CONCEPT OF MOVEMENT & REST

movement and rest A quote from Rauf Yekta Bey 1922 The movement and rest in music plays a very important role in the expression of Turkish Makams. The Makam which misses out on this vital double element is no longer a Makam.

movement and rest A quote from Rauf Yekta Bey 1922 It would be a body without a soul. A juxtaposition of musical molecules with no link bewteen. These two elements, movement and rest, allow the recognition of each Makam.

Necdet Yaşar From a recital recording in UK Nihavent taksim – recital Durham UK recorded by presenter.

74 Makams taught by Necdet with no notes missing

NInth SUBJECT RAUF YEKTA BEY RECOMMENDATION FOR EUROPE

Rauf Yekta Bey • Mevlevi • Musician • Musicologist • Author • Researcher • Genius

What should Europe do? Quote from Rauf Yekta Bey. 1922 The various tetrachords and pentachords are like the main colours on an artist’s palette. Combining them he sees many nuances. The same it is for the Turkish musician.

What should Europe do? Quote from Rauf Yekta Bey. 1922 Combining the tetrachords and pentachords he creates many melodies or many Makams. Adding modulation and the many Turkish rhythms, he has immense melodic resources; far superior to that of the European musician.

What should Europe do? Quote from Rauf Yekta Bey. 1922 Surely European ears can enjoy more than major and minor scales? It’s time for the West to create a general theory of music And enrich their harmonies with the precious treasure preserved by the Oriental ancestors.

TENTH SUBJECT PRESENTER’S RECOMMENDATION FOR TURKEY

The rich history of Turkish music. What should Turkey do now? Turkish music was a stand-alone powerful system of melody; it had the power to uplift the human soul to peace and happiness. It was melodically far superior to any music found in Europe in the 20th Century. No need for any intervention from Europe. The removal of the finer intervals giving the music its magic; was a great tragedy.

The rich history of Turkish music. What should Turkey do now? Now around the 100 year anniversary of the changes introduced by the Ezgi/Arel system, it is time for Turkey to revive the ancient system. And show Europe Turkey’s great heritage in music. The birth-right of Turkish people. Its melody surpasses that of European music. Let’s mark this anniversary by returning to the glory of this past heritage; and teach it to the young musicians of today.

TWELVTH SUBJECT Meşk SUMMARY OF ALL SUBJECTS

MASTERY From Yoga Vasishtha chpt.V. 43 No! Nothing whatsoever is gained with the help of God or guru (teacher) or wealth or other means. But only by self-effort at a complete mastery of the mind

Q. - What is Meşk in Music? A. - Four stages of mastery. 1. Mastery of the instrument of choice. 2. Mastery of the Makam system. 3. . Mastering communication with others. 4. Mastering communication within oneself. These 4 reach deeper at each stage; and include those before.

Deeper into what? Deeper into your own being. In sleep, body and senses close.

Deeper into your own being. Remember – “mastery of the mind.” The areas which overlap make our experiences

Deeper into your own being. How all the intervals relate to the four stages of Pythagorean mastery.

THIRTEENTH SUBJECT One Result of Meşk

THE ROAD TO MASTERY On my birthday in 1971 magic happened. A girl was born who became my best friend. She started to play the ney at age 7. Studied under Necdet Yaşar from age 9. Played in mutrip at Galata Tekke age 14 Played on Turkish television at age 15 . Now you will hear her Karcığar taksim. AFTER THIS I CLOSE MY PRESENTATION

The result of Meşk Daughter Tansy semazen neyzen composer the result of Meşk my soul mate

Karcığar son yürük semai & taksim Note :- in the taksim ; use of movement & rest and middle third intervals

PrEsEntEr’s onLinE PaPErs Go to - https://www.academia.edu/ Followed by these numbers • Pythagorean Sufi Music 144020337/ • Creativity in music 37095440/ • Mevlevi Music and Whirling 118215910/ • Revival of the music system 125957049/ • https://www.youtube.com/@dr.alanwenhamprosser/videos playing Mevlevi Ayinler • Contact & MP3’s of Necdet’s Makam lessons alanwprosser@gmail.com HAPPY READING/ LISTENING