Tracing A Cultural Heritage Element: The Drabut Instrument

Abstract

Music has an important place in Turkish culture. The minstrel tradition is a concrete example of this. Turkish society's relationship with music has been enriched by migration movements in the historical process and interactions with different states and regions. Especially during the Ottoman Empire, relations with different cultures further diversified Turkish music. However, some instruments, which are symbols of cultural diversity and heritage in the historical process, have sunk into oblivion. One of these is the drabut instrument, whose historical traces are found in Amasya. Interview technique was used as a qualitative research method in the study. In-depth first-hand information was obtained by interviewing the current representatives of the drabut instrument. The aim of the study was to present arguments for the acceptance of the drabut instrument as tangible cultural heritage and to raise awareness. As a result of this study, the drabut instrument started to be exhibited in the Amasya Museum. In addition, the Amasya Municipality Conservatory welcomed the use of this instrument as an accompaniment instrument in the orchestra during the concerts. Similarly, it was also envisaged that the municipal conservatory should offer courses on the drabut instrument, thus increasing the recognition of the instrument and the number of musicians performing this instrument.