“Türkülerde Yaşayan Şehir: Erzurum” (The City That Lives in Folk Songs: Erzurum) is a collection of essays and analyses authored by İsmail Bingöl and published by Dergâh Yayınları as part of its "Erzurum Library" series. The book examines the cultural identity, people, architecture, and language of the city of Erzurum through its folk songs (türküler). Described as "the writings of a sensitive and faithful pen" in the face of the city's changing landscape, the work reflects a deep affection and a sense of cultural responsibility for Erzurum. First published in 1999, the 345-page book reached its second edition in April 2018.
Content and Thematic Structure
The book “Türkülerde Yaşayan Şehir: Erzurum” brings a new dimension to recent studies on urban identity by analyzing Erzurum with a unique approach. According to the author, the book is the product of a "sensitive and faithful pen," written "in the face of the city's demolition and disappearance." In this study, İsmail Bingöl, as "a lover of Erzurum transcribing what remains in words," endeavors to preserve the city’s culture, people, architecture, and language. The author aims to "inscribe" this historic city—with its people, institutions, and living culture—into history.
The central theme of the book is how the spirit and identity of Erzurum live on in its folk songs. Folk songs are significant cultural texts that encapsulate a city's collective memory, emotional world, historical events, daily life, and human relationships. Using Erzurum's folk songs as documentary evidence, İsmail Bingöl analyzes the city's socio-cultural fabric. This is not merely a melodic analysis but also an endeavor to uncover the layers of meaning hidden in the lyrics, thereby interpreting Erzurum's unique way of life, the sentiments and thoughts of its people, and the characteristics of the "dadaş" identity.
The work serves to provide answers for those who wish to understand Erzurum and its inhabitants, and for those searching for the meaning of the "dadaş" identity. In addition to folk songs, the book discusses topics such as Erzurum's geography, human archetypes, social structure, architectural features, and local linguistic usages, all in connection with the türküler. This approach demonstrates how the organic bond between the city and its folk songs was formed and how they mutually enrich one another. With this study, Bingöl emphasizes that urban identity is constructed not only through tangible elements but also through the products of oral culture residing in the collective memory of the populace.
Language and Style
The language and style in İsmail Bingöl's “Türkülerde Yaşayan Şehir: Erzurum” reflect a sincere, fluid tone and a deep attachment to the city. The author blends his scholarly knowledge with a literary narrative style that is easily accessible to the reader. While the text presents Erzurum's cultural richness in an objective and descriptive manner, it also incorporates the author's personal observations and emotional connection. The work is devoid of any promotional or laudatory language; rather, it aims to address the local heritage with a scholarly and faithful approach.
The Author's Position and the Significance of the Work
İsmail Bingöl is a researcher and writer known for his work on the cultural and folkloric values of Erzurum. With this book, he has made a significant contribution by emphasizing the role of local music and oral culture in the formation of urban identity.
“Türkülerde Yaşayan Şehir: Erzurum” holds great significance as an original study that demonstrates how a city's identity can be interpreted through its folk songs. The book is a valuable resource not only for the study of Erzurum but also for students, academics, and general readers interested in urban identity studies, oral culture, folklore, and the sociology of literature. The work offers a distinct perspective for understanding how intangible cultural heritage, alongside tangible heritage, shapes the identities of cities and communities.
