Ahmed Adnan Saygun (1907-1991) was a prominent Turkish composer, musicologist, and educator. Born on September 7, 1907, in the port city of Izmir, Turkey, he was a pioneer in blending traditional Turkish folk music with Western classical composition, contributing significantly to the rich tapestry of 20th-century music.
Early life and education
Saygun was born into a family with a strong appreciation for the arts, which undoubtedly influenced his early fascination with music. His father, a lawyer, was an amateur oud player, and his mother enjoyed singing folk songs. Young Saygun initially learned to play the oud from his father and displayed a natural gift for music.
He pursued formal music education at the Izmir High School and later at the Istanbul Music Teachers College. Saygun moved to Paris in 1928 for further studies at the prestigious Schola Cantorum, where he honed his skills under eminent composers like Vincent d’Indy and Eugène Borrel. It was in Paris that he was exposed to the modern trends of Western classical music, which had a profound influence on his future compositions.
Returning to Turkey
Saygun returned to Turkey in 1931 and accepted a position as a music teacher at the Gazi Education Institute in Ankara. His return coincided with a nationalistic wave sweeping across the newly established Turkish Republic, and the government was keen to foster a unique Turkish identity. Saygun, along with four other composers, Ulvi Cemal Erkin, Cemal Reşit Rey, Hasan Ferit Alnar, and Necil Kazım Akses, came to be known as the Turkish Five. They were instrumental in shaping the future of Turkish classical music by incorporating local folk elements into their compositions.
Saygun’s most famous work, “Belkıs, Queen of Sheba,” premiered in 1952, marked a new era in Turkish symphonic music. The ballet score, commissioned for the 10th anniversary of the Ankara Opera House, captured the grandeur and mysticism of the East, woven with intricate rhythmic patterns, melodies, and harmonies, inspired by Turkish folk traditions.
Musicology and field work
Saygun was equally dedicated to musicology as to composing. His dedication to folk music and ethnographic fieldwork were significant for Turkish musicology. He carried out exhaustive studies of the folk music of Anatolia, cataloging and transcribing numerous songs, dances, and instrumental pieces. In 1936, Saygun accompanied the renowned Hungarian composer Béla Bartók during his tour of Anatolia, where they collected and analyzed Turkish folk melodies.
Saygun continued his contributions as an educator later in his life. He was appointed as a professor at the Ankara State Conservatory in 1972. His scholarly works include a four-volume series on Turkish music theory, solfege, and musicology, which are still used as key educational resources in Turkish conservatories.
Ahmed Adnan Saygun passed away on January 6, 1991, leaving behind a legacy of compositions, research, and pedagogical work that continues to shape Turkish music. His music continues to be performed regularly in concert halls around the world, and his scholarly work is an invaluable resource for understanding Turkish folk music and its fusion with Western compositional techniques.
Remembered as a national treasure, Saygun played an indispensable role in creating a distinctively Turkish form of classical music, bridging the gap between the nation’s rich traditional musical roots and the Western classical tradition. His pioneering work continues to inspire contemporary composers, musicologists, and students of music, cementing his place in the annals of music history.
Ahmed Adnan Saygun (1907 – 1991)
Ahmed Adnan Saygun (1907-1991) was a prominent Turkish composer, musicologist, and educator. Born on September 7, 1907, in the port city of Izmir, Turkey, he was a pioneer in blending traditional Turkish folk music with Western classical composition, contributing significantly to the rich tapestry of 20th-century music.
Early life and education
Saygun was born into a family with a strong appreciation for the arts, which undoubtedly influenced his early fascination with music. His father, a lawyer, was an amateur oud player, and his mother enjoyed singing folk songs. Young Saygun initially learned to play the oud from his father and displayed a natural gift for music.
He pursued formal music education at the Izmir High School and later at the Istanbul Music Teachers College. Saygun moved to Paris in 1928 for further studies at the prestigious Schola Cantorum, where he honed his skills under eminent composers like Vincent d’Indy and Eugène Borrel. It was in Paris that he was exposed to the modern trends of Western classical music, which had a profound influence on his future compositions.
Returning to Turkey
Saygun returned to Turkey in 1931 and accepted a position as a music teacher at the Gazi Education Institute in Ankara. His return coincided with a nationalistic wave sweeping across the newly established Turkish Republic, and the government was keen to foster a unique Turkish identity. Saygun, along with four other composers, Ulvi Cemal Erkin, Cemal Reşit Rey, Hasan Ferit Alnar, and Necil Kazım Akses, came to be known as the Turkish Five. They were instrumental in shaping the future of Turkish classical music by incorporating local folk elements into their compositions.
Saygun’s most famous work, “Belkıs, Queen of Sheba,” premiered in 1952, marked a new era in Turkish symphonic music. The ballet score, commissioned for the 10th anniversary of the Ankara Opera House, captured the grandeur and mysticism of the East, woven with intricate rhythmic patterns, melodies, and harmonies, inspired by Turkish folk traditions.
Musicology and field work
Saygun was equally dedicated to musicology as to composing. His dedication to folk music and ethnographic fieldwork were significant for Turkish musicology. He carried out exhaustive studies of the folk music of Anatolia, cataloging and transcribing numerous songs, dances, and instrumental pieces. In 1936, Saygun accompanied the renowned Hungarian composer Béla Bartók during his tour of Anatolia, where they collected and analyzed Turkish folk melodies.
Saygun continued his contributions as an educator later in his life. He was appointed as a professor at the Ankara State Conservatory in 1972. His scholarly works include a four-volume series on Turkish music theory, solfege, and musicology, which are still used as key educational resources in Turkish conservatories.
Ahmed Adnan Saygun passed away on January 6, 1991, leaving behind a legacy of compositions, research, and pedagogical work that continues to shape Turkish music. His music continues to be performed regularly in concert halls around the world, and his scholarly work is an invaluable resource for understanding Turkish folk music and its fusion with Western compositional techniques.
Remembered as a national treasure, Saygun played an indispensable role in creating a distinctively Turkish form of classical music, bridging the gap between the nation’s rich traditional musical roots and the Western classical tradition. His pioneering work continues to inspire contemporary composers, musicologists, and students of music, cementing his place in the annals of music history.
Discography
Dark Fire
Joachim Eijlander