Sufi Music in Şanlıurfa

Şanlıurfa has a very developed religious music.

Şanlıurfa has a very developed religious music. This music, which has very different characteristics from the religious music in other regions, is named as "Çifte " in the region and is widely used today. The “Çifte” are lively, enthusiastic and rhythmic as melodies, according to mystic music in rather than other regions. This music is called “Çifte” because of the chorale (collective) performance of these melodies. At the same time, these solo performances in the meeting places are called "tek" which means single.

When we examine Çifteler in Sanliurfa, the first feature that attracts attention is the profile of the Çifteler. Eighteen steps are used extensively and the anakruz (incomplete measure) is very common. In particular, the rhythm of the melodies measured as “curcuma” 2 + 3 + 2 + 3 and “aksak semai” 3 + 2 + 2 + 3 is entered into the last three. “Sofyan” 4/4 and “sengin semai” 6/4 are frequently used in “Çifte”.