The roots of traditional music in Turkey span across centuries to a time when the Seljuk Turks migrated to Anatolia and Persia in the 11th century and contains elements of both Turkic and pre-Turkic influences. Much of its modern popular music can trace its roots to the emergence in the early 1930s drive for Westernization.
Front façade of Atatürk Cultural Center after completion. The main opera building in Istanbul
Female musical players. Ottoman miniature painting, 18th century.
Surname-i Vebbi (fol. 172a), showing military band.
CSO Ada Ankara serves as Presidential Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall in the capital
Ayşe Ajda Pekkan is a Turkish singer. She is known by the title "superstar" in the Turkish media. Pekkan became a prominent figure of Turkish pop music with her songs, in which she tried to create a strong female figure. By keeping her works updated and getting influence from Western elements, she managed to become one of Turkey's modern and enduring icons in different periods. Her musical style has kept her popular for more than 50 years and has inspired many of her successors. Pekkan is highly respected in the music industry and her vocal techniques together with many of her albums were praised by music critics.
Pekkan in 2013
Pekkan performing at a concert in 2009