Pioneers of Contemporary Turkish Music: The Turkish Five and Their Works

Born from the War of Independence under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's leadership as a fully independent, modern state, the Republic of Türkiye undertook reforms that transformed its social and cultural structures. The innovations known as the “Turkish Music Revolution” gave rise to contemporary Turkish music. The first Turkish musicians to choose composition as a profession are known as the “Turkish Five”.

Cemal Reşit Rey (25.10.1904-07.10.1985)

Works include seven operas, three musicals, a radio sketch, five incidental scores, film music, “Bebek”, “Karagöz”, “Enstanteneler”, twelve folk songs with piano accompaniment, concertos for piano and strings, choral works, the Republic's 10th Anniversary March, the Reserve Officers' March and a symphonic prelude for the beginning of the Republic's 50th year. He also wrote operettas including “Lüküs Hayat”, “Deli Dolu”, “Hava Cıva”, “Saz Caz”, “Maskara”, “Yaygara”, “Balon Dünya” and “İstanbul Masalı”. His musicals include “Adalar Revüsü” and “Aldırma”; other works include the musical sketch “Benli Hürmüz” and the incidental music for “Özyurt”.

Hasan Ferid Alnar (11.03.1906-27.07.1978)

Works: Ten Yunus hymns; a suite for violin and piano; “Sarı Zeybek”; chamber works; a concerto for kanun and string orchestra; film music; incidental music for the three-act tragedy “Faust”; suites, overtures, preludes and dances; harmonised folk songs; a trio; and the first Yunus Emre Symphony. He also intended to compose a national opera.

Ulvi Cemal Erkin (14.03.1906- 15.09.1972)

Works include three pieces for violin and piano; two orchestral dances; seven Anatolian folk songs; “Beş Damla” for piano; an eleven-piece piano collection; seven easy piano pieces for children; the symphonic work “Bayram”; a string quartet; a piano quintet; the orchestral dance suite “Köçekçe”; two symphonies; a violin concerto; and his final work, “Senfonik Bölüm”, performed seven years after his death.

Ahmet Adnan Saygun (07.09.1907-06.01.1991)

Works include five operas, an oratorio, a viola concerto, five piano preludes, “Demet” for violin and piano, a partita for solo violin, ten studies on aksak rhythms, “Ölünün Kitabı”, “Masal”, “Halay” for orchestra, “Sihirli Raks”, “İnci'nin Kitabı” for piano, “Duyuşlar” for women's choir, an orchestral suite, more than 100 harmonised Turkish folk songs and a book on music theory.

Necil Kazım Akses (06.05.1908- 16.02.1999)

Works include two operas; preludes and fugues for piano; various piano pieces; “Poeme” for violin and piano; a string quartet; a symphonic dance; three melodies for voice and strings; suites; choral works; harmonised folk songs; the choral work “Dağlar”; a string trio; symphonies; a violin concerto; works for children's choirs; and the March for the 50th Anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye.

They composed in every form of classical music in Türkiye and entered history as the country's first composers to reach an international standard.

Duygu Deniz Uşaklıgil
Rekor Sanat – Violin Teacher