A DIGITAL PRONUNCIATION GUIDE FOR SINGERS: Selected Turkish Art Songs by Ahmet Adnan Saygun and Turgay Erdener

Abstract

Turkish vocal repertoire still lacks sufficient linguistic and musical resources compared to the well-established traditions of European art song in languages such as German, French, and Italian. This creative project addresses this gap by developing a digital guide designed specifically for non-native Turkish-speaking performers, educators, and students. Through a combination of research, performance, and resource-building, this project investigates selected art songs by two significant Turkish composers: Turgay Erdener (b. 1957), a living contemporary Turkish composer, and Ahmed Adnan Saygun (1907–1991), a prominent figure of integrating Western compositional techniques with Turkish musical heritage.The outcome of this project is a website that provides International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcriptions, word-for-word English translations, audio recordings, poetic translations, performance recordings, interpretive suggestions, and contextual information on both the works and their composers. In addition to digital access, a Turkish IPA guidance document, prepared specifically for this project, will be available for future studies. These efforts will substantiate the rightful place of Turkish vocal works alongside other national traditions within the canon of Art Song and perpetuate performances and study for educators and performers around the world.