Türk Dünyasında Nevruz Kutlamalarında Ortak Ritüellerin Ezgisel İzleri
Musical Traces of Common Rituals in Nevruz Celebrations in the Turkish World

Summary/Abstract: The Nevruz Festival, which is sustained as a shared cultural heritage throughout the Turkic world, is not only a celebration of the arrival of spring or the beginning of a new year, but also has great significance in terms of historical identity, belief system, and the rebuilding of social unity. The problem of this study is that, despite Nevruz's extensive history in Türkiye, its musical aspects have not been adequately documented, having been examined in only a limited number of musicological studies. In this festival, which is celebrated with rituals in Turkish communities, music stands out as both the bearer of oral culture and the symbolic narrator of shared identity. The research employed the descriptive analysis method, a qualitative research design, focusing on Nevruz celebrations in independent Turkish states, including Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. In the study, in addition to written sources, audiovisual materials were also used to analyze the structure of musical rituals, the folk instruments used, the function of melodies, and the contexts of performance. The findings of the study show that Nevruz music is not merely an aesthetic element, but a profound form of expression that represents the relationship with cultural identity, historical conscience, and nature. Folk melodies, dances, and manis performed with traditional instruments such as the dombra, dutar, komuz, tuiduk, doira, and karnay are the main musical elements that keep the spirit of Nevruz alive. Although the instruments and melodies used in each community may differ, the unifying power of music in these celebrations is common to all. In conclusion, this study reveals that Nevruz is not merely a folkloric event, but also a cultural memory space that is constantly reproduced and transmitted through music. It is recommended to document Nevruz music systematically, to integrate it into music education programs, and thus to pass it on to younger generations. In this way, it is aimed to preserve the traditional musical heritage and strengthen cultural unity among the Turkic world.

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