Music-Culture I

I am Turkish and I am a Muslim. Therefore, one of the most influential music-cultures for me is religious Turkish songs called ilahi which means "divine". Growing up, my parents preferred that I listened to religious music rather than popular music which aren’t always suitable for children. So, I would always listen to religious Turkish music; in the car, on TV, or even when I studied. When I was a baby, my mother would sing these songs to me when trying to put me to sleep. I really enjoyed this genre because it incorporated a lot of traditional Turkish instruments, which I was used to hearing in other traditional songs, with religious lyrics which spoke to me and revitalized my soul. The music in this genre is usually very soothing and soft which makes it relaxing and easy to listen to. I have never stopped listening to this genre. The songs I listened to as a child became classics for me. Later on, when I was older, I joined the choir at the local Turkish community center. It was a religious choir so I began spending time singing the songs I had always loved. I had been in the choir for about 8 years. What was most import for me as I grew up listening to these religious songs was that it made me think about my religion and often evoked feelings of peace and love for God. This made me more religious which made me happy. Even now in college, where most of my friends only listen to rock or rap songs, I find it nostalgic, peaceful, and relaxing to listen to religious Turkish music. Here is a sample of one of my favorite genres (Mustafa Demirci - Sultanim).