The kabak kemane is a bowed instrument which was performed in local repertory in the mountain villages of Western Anatolia mostly by the Yörüks until 1950s before being performed at TRT. After taking place in Yurttan Sesler Ensemble at TRT, it started to be performed in folk songs of different regions, too.

Kabak kemane, which started to be taught academically in Turkish music conservatories after Yurttan Sesler, has become an instrument performed in Turkish folk music choirs of the Ministry of Culture, in instrumental ensembles and in the albums of folk music singers, therefore; it has started to be performed with bağlama ensembles and other folk music instruments in every region’s folk songs. In these collective performances, especially when the style is in question, the most important instruments that must be in harmony when played together with kabak kemane are stringed and plectrumed instruments such as the bağlama, cura and divan belonging to bağlama family. One of the repertories and regional styles in these collective performances is the folk songs performed with Yozgat or Sürmeli style. Together with kabak kemane’s taking part in Yurttan Sesler Ensemble after bağlama family, kabak kemane has also begun to be played in this local style. This article has been prepared to reveal how and in what way Yozgat (Sürmeli) style is played on the kabak kemane with which bow and finger movements and thus to contribute to the training of kabak kemane, especially in Turkish music conservatories.

For full article in Turkish (Tübitak - Ulakbim - TR Dergileri Dizini)

Eurasian journal of music and dance (Online) [Year:2020 Volume:1 Issue:17 Pages:277-285]