The Musical Style of Anadolu Rock in the Formative Period (1965-1975)

Abstract

This study presents the analyses of songs released between 1965 and 1975 by Anadolu Rock artists Erkin Koray, Cem Karaca, and Barış Manço. Anadolu Rock, which emerged in the 1960s in Turkey, created an opportunity for the development of a distinctive musical style. This style is a fusion of American Rock 'n' Roll and traditional Turkish makam music. The compositions often feature major, minor, and phrygian modes, exhibiting characteristics of makam music. Additionally, each artist frequently incorporates specific rhythmic patterns into their melodies. Early lyrics within Anadolu Rock consist of 7, 8, and 11 syllables, often adhering to syllabic meter similar to those found in folk poetry. So, the original song lyrics are also composed using a syllabic meter commonly found in folk poetry. Due to its association with makam music, Anatolian rock possesses a unique modal structure that distinguishes it harmonically from its Western counterparts. Although the I, IV, and V chords in major modality might resemble Blues and Rock 'n' Roll in form, it's notable that the harmonic progression does not adhere to specific chord patterns. In minor modality, both the V-i cadence and the bVII-i cadences are employed, while in phrygian modality, the bII-i and bVII-i cadences are utilized.