As a result of existing in a unique geographic location which is right in the middle of Eastern and Westerns cultures, Turkey’s acquisitions –due to its chance of being a bridge among these two ancient cultures for centuries— are countless. In addition to its always-sensitive-importance in the world’s balance according to the economic and political aspects, these lands possess a vast cultural heritage in the name of art within a wide range of time from ancient to contemporary periods. For these reasons, every type of art made and done in these lands has experienced the fate and privilege of being born out of interactions between Eastern and Western cultures.

We live on the cultural accumulation of these lands, which teach the world the beauty of human diversity and the awareness of fraternity, and for centuries give examples of how everyone can live together under one roof regardless of religion, language or race. Considering the world music history, classical music composers, as in every civilized society, have become cultural ambassadors to carry their own culture to the future. When Mustafa Kemal Atatürk established the republic with this awareness, he sent some of our young composers known today as Turkish Fives with a state scholarship to abroad and help them learn about the music of the West, which is valued internationally, and be useful to our country when they get back. Atatürk –who is officially accepted by UNESCO in 1981 as one of the biggest reformers in the world— has an understanding of reformism which is mainly progressive while it stillfavors protecting the core values of our society. In light of this understanding, we, as contemporary Turkish composers, have many duties for the society in order to instill free thought, new ideas and the idea of living in peace through art. Likewise, in these times when the number of Turkish conductors educated worldwide is increasing, it should be noted that they also have the power and responsibility to permanently affect the artistic and cultural life of this land.

As a 5th generation Turkish composer who is on the way of modernization of the nation starting from the Turkish Five, I can easily say that, with the opportunities offered by Maltepe University Conservatory, the composition and orchestral conducting training that young people will receive here will not only give them the chance to become civilized world-artists; at the same time, they will carry our society and culture further by transferring –while using their own filters— the values and cultural accumulation of these lands to the society through their musical compositions or interpretations which they will be creating as a result of their mental and spiritual development.

Armağan Durdağ, DMA

Head of Composition and Orchestral Conducting Department, Assistant Professor of Music.