Ali Ekber Çiçek (read Turkish version here | listen to music samples)
Introduction
Ali Ekber Çiçek is a significant artist who left deep traces in the universe of Turkish Folk Music and Alevi Hymns, integrating the understanding of Sufi music with performance and compilation processes. Born in 1935 in Ulalar Village, Erzincan, and completing his journey in Istanbul in 2006, Çiçek is known for his career at TRT Ankara Radio and the Voices of the Homeland Choir. Having collected over 400 folk songs over a period exceeding thirty-five years, the artist's 54-cassette recording collection remaining in the TRT archives demonstrates his diligence and the breadth of his repertoire. Çiçek's best-known work, "Haydar Haydar," is accepted as one of the peaks in the symphonic Turkish folk music tradition; while titles such as "Derdim Çoktur Hangisine Yanayım," "Yolumuz Gurbete Düştü," and "Gönül Gel Seninle Muhabbet Edelim" also met with audiences. Having lost his father in the 1939 Erzincan earthquake and starting his apprenticeship at a young age, with his education interrupted due to financial impossibilities, Çiçek represented Turkish ethnic music on the international stage with the lessons he gave in Japan, in addition to his contributions to the music world. His grave in Tahtakuşlar Village, Edremit, Balıkesir, symbolizes his connection with the Alevi-Bektashi tradition; whereas his working relationships with names such as Arif Sağ, Musa Eroğlu, and Mahzuni Şerif reflect the musical atmosphere of the period. Although differences are found in sources regarding some biographical details and dates, Çiçek's musical legacy and compilation work clearly mark his place in Turkish music history.
Biography
One of the important names that come to mind when speaking of Turkish Folk Music and Alevi Hymns, Ali Ekber Çiçek was born on June 5, 1935, in Ulalar Village, Erzincan. His early life was quite difficult; Çiçek, who lost his father in the 1939 Erzincan earthquake, was forced to apprentice at a young age and did not complete his education due to financial impossibilities.
The turning point of his artistic career was the year 1961. In this year, he began his professional life by entering TRT Ankara Radio and the Voices of the Homeland Choir; during the over 35 years spent here, he realized the compilation of over 400 folk songs. The existence of 54 cassettes of recordings belonging to him in the TRT archives is an important data point showing the depth of the traces he left on music.
Çiçek, whose musical identity covers Turkish Folk Music, Alevi Hymns, and Sufi Music areas, is etched in memory especially with the work named "Haydar Haydar." This work is accepted as the peak of symphonic Turkish folk music. His repertoire includes deep works such as "Derdim Çoktur Hangisine Yanayım," "Yolumuz Gurbete Düştü," "Gönül Gel Seninle Muhabbet Edelim," "Ey Erenler Akıl Fikir Eyleyin," and "Gurbet Elde Yadellerin Derdini." Throughout his career, he participated in works related with artists such as Arif Sağ, Mahzuni Şerif, Musa Eroğlu, Erdal Erzincan, and Cemile Cevher Çiçek.
It is stated that in later periods of his life, he gave lessons on Turkish ethnic music in Japan. He passed away in Istanbul on April 26, 2006, due to pancreatic cancer. According to his will, he was buried in the cemetery of Tahtakuşlar Village, connected to Edremit district of Balıkesir.
The artist's career and life were recorded by TRT with the documentary "Cahilden Uzak Dur, Kemale Yakın" shot in 2003. After his death, his music continued to live; in the film "61 Days" made in 2016, he took part as soundtrack and actor (posthumous). His discography includes albums such as "Bir Nefes" (2005), "Derde Derman Ararıdım" (2001), "Yolumuz Gurbete Düştü" (2000), "Anadolu'nun Sesi (Haydar Haydar)" (1999), and "Semahlar Ve Deyişler" (1996). Also, an album titled "Adım Adım Anadolu" was published in 2025. Although different information is found in sources regarding some personal details and working periods, he maintains his place in memory as an artist known for his compilations and performances contributed to Turkish Folk Music.
Style
Ali Ekber Çiçek's musical world is positioned at the intersection of the titles Turkish Folk Music, Alevi Hymns, and Sufi Music. The artist's style is defined not only by a performer perspective but also by the effort to compile and record Anatolian sounds. Having realized the compilation of over 400 folk songs over a period exceeding 35 years during his career shows that his repertoire understanding is built on the mission of protecting and reinterpreting traditional accumulation. His works spread over many years at TRT Ankara Radio and the Voices of the Homeland Choir are among the most concrete proofs of how this compilation accumulation settled into national memory.
When the processed themes are examined, it is seen that Çiçek's emotional world is shaped on the axis of exile, sorrow, and spirituality. Works such as "Derdim Çoktur Hangisine Yanayım," "Yolumuz Gurbete Düştü," and "Gurbet Elde Yadellerin Derdini" center on the exile and separation pain of Anatolian people; whereas pieces such as "Ey Erenler Akıl Fikir Eyleyin" reflect loyalty felt towards the Alevi and Sufi hymn tradition processing wisdom and morality themes. Especially the work "Haydar Haydar," accepted as the peak of symphonic Turkish folk music, carries the quality of an important musical reference regarding the artist's competence in modernizing traditional sounds at the level of arrangement and production.
However, the inability to form a detailed and consistent profile regarding the artist's specific vocal character, vocal tone, and performance techniques in existing sources sets the limits of style analysis. The existence of contradictions between sources regarding the TRT entry year, recording times of the works, and some biographical details are factors that make making definitive comments on musical personality difficult. Nevertheless, the 54-cassette recording accumulation in the archives and albums published in the 2000s constitute concrete traces of the musical legacy. Çiçek's style can be placed on a clearer line in the context of the effort to preserve and transform Anatolian sounds through these recordings and compilation works.
Songs and Works
Ali Ekber Çiçek's musical legacy is shaped by works positioned at the intersection of Turkish Folk Music and Alevi Hymns. The masterpiece that became the symbol of the artist's career is the work named "Haydar Haydar," accepted as the peak of symphonic Turkish folk music. This track stands out as the work where Çiçek's identity as both compiler and performer is most intensely reflected. Other notable works in the repertoire include exile and sorrow-themed pieces such as "Derdim Çoktur Hangisine Yanayım," "Yolumuz Gurbete Düştü," "Gönül Gel Seninle Muhabbet Edelim," "Gurbet Elde Yadellerin Derdini," and hymns designed on the importance of spirituality and reason such as "Ey Erenler Akıl Fikir Eyleyin."
When the artist's discographic data are examined, a publishing process extending from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s is seen. The albums "Semahlar Ve Deyişler" (1996), "Anadolu'nun Sesi (Haydar Haydar)" (1999), "Yolumuz Gurbete Düştü" (2000), "Derde Derman Ararıdım" (2001), and "Bir Nefes" (2005) are among the important recordings of this period. Also, works named "Sevda Vadisi" and "Adım Adım Anadolu" (2025) which is stated to have been released after his career are listed in sources. The project noted for him taking part as soundtrack and actor in the film "61 Days" shot in 2016 after his death is one of the works that ensures his work is remembered through modern media tools.
The recordings of Ali Ekber Çiçek's works were not limited only to album publishing. Throughout his career at TRT Ankara Radio and the Voices of the Homeland Choir, he left 54 cassettes of recordings in the TRT archives. This archival work of the artist, who compiled over 400 folk songs over a period exceeding 35 years, is critical from the perspective of folk music memory. However, the existence of inconsistencies in some sections of the sources regarding details such as mastering or working time of the work "Haydar Haydar" (between 3 years and 7 years) necessitates caution in reaching definitive information regarding the technical processes of the work. Nevertheless, Çiçek's intensive recordings and compilations in the TRT archives indicate that his works constitute a reliable musical archive.
Context
Ali Ekber Çiçek, born in 1935 in Erzincan Ulalar Village, went down in history as an important folk music artist who carried the sounds of Anatolia to TRT broadcasting. After losing his father in the 1939 Erzincan earthquake, the apprenticeship process starting at a young age and having to leave his education incomplete due to financial impossibilities was one of the factors that shaped his resistance on the musician path. Although it is accepted that the artist has a privileged place in Turkey's music history with the 54-cassette recording accumulation in the TRT archives and 400+ folk songs compiled over 35+ years, the start dates of his career and some biographical details show inconsistency between sources. For example, while the TRT entry year is stated as 1961, some sources suggest this period points to the late 1950s.
By virtue of his musical identity, he was located at the intersection of Turkish Folk Music, Alevi Hymns, and Sufi Music movements; especially the work "Haydar Haydar" was accepted as one of the peaks of symphonic Turkish folk music. However, different information between 3 years and 7 years is found in sources regarding the preparation process of the work. Throughout his career, he was found in the same circle with names such as Arif Sağ, Musa Eroğlu, Mahzuni Şerif, and Muzaffer Sarısözen; in this period, he gave priority to works with exile and spirituality themes ("Derdim Çoktur Hangisine Yanayım," "Gurbet Elde Yadellerin Derdini") with the repertoire he compiled. The documentary "Cahilden Uzak Dur, Kemale Yakın" shot by TRT in 2003 played an important role in transferring his legacy to future generations.
Being buried in the cemetery of Tahtakuşlar Village connected to Edremit district of Balıkesir according to his will points to the connection with the settled culture in Alevi belief. He is remembered via the film "61 Days" where songs he sang after his death in 2006 were included in 2016 and the lessons he gave on Turkish ethnic music in Japan, showing that he was also recognized internationally. Death age (70 or 71), second wife (Sevgi or Can Çiçek), and details of the awards he received are not fully clear in sources. Posthumous publications such as the album "Adım Adım Anadolu" published in 2025 are evaluated as a sign that his artistic effect continues to expand over time.
Legacy
Ali Ekber Çiçek went down in Turkish Folk Music history not only as a performer but also as a compiler and archivist carrying the sounds of Anatolia to future generations. His career starting with his entry to TRT Ankara Radio and the Voices of the Homeland Choir in 1961 and extending over 35+ years materialized with the compilation and recording of over 400 folk songs in Turkish music literature. The 54-cassette recording located in the TRT archives continues to be one of the first and most comprehensive witnesses of this modest Anatolian music in professional studio standards.
The most prominent element of the artist's legacy is the work "Haydar Haydar," accepted as one of the peaks of the Symphonic Turkish Folk Music movement. This work contributed to the universal language of folk music by combining the traditional form with contemporary interpretation and was etched in memory as the most lasting work carrying Çiçek's signature. His repertoire richness is reflected not only by exile and sorrow-themed works such as "Derdim Çoktur Hangisine Yanayım," "Yolumuz Gurbete Düştü," and "Gurbet Elde Yadellerin Derdini" but also by hymns where spirituality and reason are prominent such as "Ey Erenler Akıl Fikir Eyleyin."
Ali Ekber Çiçek's place in cultural memory remained alive after his death. The documentary "Cahilden Uzak Dur, Kemale Yakın" shot by TRT in 2003 is an important source for future generations by recording the artist's life story and artistic understanding. The film "61 Days" published in 2016 with posthumous contribution and the album "Adım Adım Anadolu" released in 2025 are indications that his sound legacy continues to exist in the art and culture world in post-death periods.
The lifestyle principle he adopted and his last will shaped his bond not only with music but also with belief and land. Despite being forced to apprentice at a young age after losing his father in the 1939 Erzincan earthquake and being unable to continue his education, the wish to be buried in the cemetery of Tahtakuşlar Village, connected to Edremit district of Balıkesir, is a silent witness to how deep his bond with Anatolia was. Although his name is mentioned under the same roof with the important names of the period such as Arif Sağ, Mahzuni Şerif, and Musa Eroğlu, he remained one of the unforgettable figures of Turkish Folk Music with his compilations that defined his own path and his unique interpretation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Ali Ekber Çiçek's birth and death information? The artist was born in Ulalar Village, Erzincan on June 5, 1935, and passed away in Istanbul on April 26, 2006. According to his will, he was buried in the cemetery of Tahtakuşlar Village, connected to Edremit district of Balıkesir.
What are his musical style and best known works? His musical identity is located at the intersection of Turkish Folk Music, Alevi Hymns, and Sufi Music. His best known work is "Haydar Haydar," which is accepted as one of the peaks in the symphonic Turkish folk music tradition. His repertoire also includes works such as "Derdim Çoktur Hangisine Yanayım," "Yolumuz Gurbete Düştü," and "Ey Erenler Akıl Fikir Eyleyin."
What are the data regarding TRT career and compilation works? The artist started his professional life by entering TRT Ankara Radio and the Voices of the Homeland Choir in 1961. During the over 35 years spent there, he realized the compilation of over 400 folk songs and left 54 cassettes of recordings in the TRT archives.
What are the biographical details cited as inconsistent in sources? Differences exist between sources regarding some biographical details and dates. It is difficult to reach definitive information on issues such as TRT entry year (1961 or late 1950s), "Haydar Haydar" work preparation time (between 3 and 7 years), death age (70 or 71), and the name of the second wife.
How was the artist's legacy maintained after death? The documentary "Cahilden Uzak Dur, Kemale Yakın" shot by TRT in 2003 transferred the legacy. Also, he took part as soundtrack and actor in the film "61 Days" shot in 2016, and the posthumous album "Adım Adım Anadolu" was published in 2025.
What were his musical activities internationally? The artist represented Turkish music on the international stage with the lessons he gave on Turkish ethnic music in Japan. Throughout his career, he had working relationships with names such as Arif Sağ, Musa Eroğlu, and Mahzuni Şerif.