Music subgroup established in 1993 as a Classical Turkish Music Group.

The first musical effort by the Australian Western Thrace Turks was the Bozkurtlar band formed by the Şerafettin and Salih Reşitoğlu brothers in 1975 together with their friends Ridvan Gagalı and Ali Seyhanlı as an individual endeavour. The group played in the national and religious functions not as a band, but as volunteer association members. At times, Ahmet Ahmetoğlu, Dursun Hasan and Hüseyin Memiş joined them.

Following Bozkurtlar, the bands Şahinler, and later Özgürler were formed. All three of these bands dissolved after three to five years and their members started working in various bands in Melbourne. However, performances at association functions continued under Salih Reşitoğlu with no band name.

The first efforts within the Australian Western Thrace Turkish Association started in 1993 as a Classical Turkish Music group. This is a performance group. Apart from Western Thrace Turks, it includes Turks from Turkey, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Bulgaria and Kosovo. The group’s work is followed with interest by the Turkish community in Australia as well as other ethnic groups. It appears on stage at the association’s functions and as invited by other associations and government department. It has also produced a CD. The formation of the women’s choir within the music group is an important development. As an example of the group’s work, we include the score of a song in the ‘uşşak’ genre, ‘Senin Kalbine Bir Girebilsem’, with lyrics and music by Nadir Celil.


PHOTO HERE


As well as participating in the Classical Turkish Music Ensemble of the association, the Salih and Şerafettin Reşitoğlu brothers have also performed Sufi music independently. They terminated their musical work in the association in 2007 to publicise this music and its instruments in the broader Australian community. They continue their intense work on Sufi music with a separate group.

Western Thrace Turks in Australia have been playing the following instruments in their Turkish folk music, classical Turkish music, western music and Sufi music works, which they have been performing since 1975: ‘Bağlama’, ‘Kanun’, ‘Ud’, percussion (‘Darbuka’), violin, ‘Bendir’, clarinet, bouzouki, guitar and keyboard.
We also need to emphasise here the musical aspect of the compilation of folk songs, especially from the first generation of migrants to Australia.

Regular music practice at the association, August 2004
 

The first band of the Western Thrace Turks in Australia,
Bozkurtlar, playing Western music, October 1978





The band Bozkurtlar playing Turkish folk music during a  function
 of Australian Western Thrace Turkish Association, 1980