“Flavours of Turkish Music for Harpists” wishes to
inspire harpists and fill their ears with Turkish melodies
and rhythms that they can easily approach. Realized
for lever harp, the 120 études in this primer are
conceived progressively and have been edited with a
pedagogical mindset. Pedal harpists are welcome to use the material.
The études are categorized by their makam. Makam
is the Turkish music system by which melodies are
created, shaped by colourful scales and inherent
motivic characteristics. Twenty makams are featured
in this primer, each of them forming a chapter.
Furthermore, these études are based on a wealth of
rhythmic patterns, a structure called usul. Twenty-
three usuls are introduced in the book.
Certainly, the possibilities for creating “flavours” in
Turkish music are nearly endless. This primer
adopts an approach which respects the nature of the
harp and that of Turkish music as much as possible,
showing perhaps not all the layers that make up the
flavours of Turkish music, but enough of what can be
reproduced on the harp.