Tümata (read Turkish version here)
Tümata
Tümata, one of the rare formations where music is considered as a healing tool beyond aesthetics and a subject of academic research, stands out on the Turkish music scene with its unique disciplined posture. This structure, operating under the title "Turkish Music Research and Introduction Group", can be defined as a versatile culture, art, and therapy center set out under the leadership of founder Rahmi Oruç Güvenç, rather than a performance group. It is known that the group's studies, established in the mid-1970s, were supported by ethnomusicological projects carried out with academic institutions such as Istanbul University and Marmara University.
Although there is no clarity in the sources regarding a complete album list and specific work details, the compositions published by the group under the title "Music Therapy Series" and recordings such as "Kiyehenni" reflect the fundamental focus of their studies. The process ranging from practices carried out at rehabilitation centers in Vienna to semas organized at historical hospitals in Edirne are concrete evidences of this journey centering on music's healing potential. Although existing sources offer limited discographic details, Tümata, which carries forward the Turkish and Central Asian music heritage to the present day and makes pioneering studies in the field of music therapy, is engraved in cultural and scientific memory by preserving the legacy of the founder who passed away in 2017.
Biography
Tümata (Turkish Music Research and Introduction Group) is a unique project that emerged in the mid-1970s on Turkey's music and culture research scene. The group is positioned as an interdisciplinary structure that, beyond bringing together Turkish Music, Central Asian Art Music, and Baksı culture with the vision of its founder Assist. Prof. Dr. Rahmi Oruç Güvenç, also treats music as a therapeutic tool. Although the establishment year appears as 1975 in some sources, the generally accepted date is 1976.
Its academic roots are quite strong. The group, which operated affiliated to the Istanbul University Ethnomusicology Research and Application Center between 1991 and 1995, later continued its studies as the Turkish Music Research and Introduction Unit within the Institute of Turkish Studies at Marmara University. This integration allowed Tümata to be evaluated not only as a performing arts group but also as an academic research center. One of the most striking aspects of the group is its pioneering studies in the field of music therapy. Tümata, which opened a school training music therapists in Rosenau, Austria, detected positive changes in the brain's alpha and theta waves in studies conducted on patients in a coma at the Vienna Meidling Rehabilitation Center.
Works such as the "Music and Health Series – Receptive, Meditative Music Therapy CDs" prepared in this context and "Kiyehenni" stand out as important parts of the studies conducted by the group. Additionally, concerts held in 1995 at the Sultan 2nd Bayezid Hospital in Edirne hold the nature of important milestones meeting historical heritage with music therapy. Its services beyond Turkey in the Turkic world have also been crowned with various awards. Rahmi Oruç Güvenç, who received the Honorary Professorship title by Fergana University in 1992, secured successes for him from national and international platforms such as Motif Folklore Education Association, Friendship Song Festival, TURKSAV, and Turkic World Red Apple Award.
Tümata's instrument collection is also striking; in sources, this number is stated as between 300 and 400 Central Asian and Anatolian instruments. Within the scope of the group's ritualistic studies, uninterrupted Sema events lasting 3, 5, 7, 9, 16, 40, 66, 99, and 114 days have been organized. However, in 2017, founder Rahmi Oruç Güvenç passed away on the 66th day of one of these events. Although Güvenç is described as the sole expert in music therapy in Turkey, Tümata continues to uphold his legacy. Although a complete album list or detailed song catalog for the group is not clearly present in the sources, CD, DVD, and video archives currently exist.
Style and Musical Identity
Tümata is an interdisciplinary culture-art structure defined as the Turkish Music Research and Introduction Group, beyond the boundaries of a concert group in the traditional sense. The musical identity shaped under the leadership of Rahmi Oruç Güvenç is intertwined with academic research, teaching, and music therapy practices rather than stage performance. Its repertoire aims to synthesize Makam Music, Sufi Music, and Baksı Culture elements, which establish the historical bridge between Turkish Music and Central Asian Art Music, with World Music tones.
Current information in the sources indicates that the group focuses on the functional, therapeutic, and ritual dimension of music rather than specific vocal techniques. Makam-based compositions prepared within the scope of the "Music and Health Series" and works like "Kiyehenni" are designed to take the listener on a meditative journey. Sema events offer a holistic structure experiencing the physical and spiritual interaction of sound through uninterrupted processes ranging from 3 to 114 days. Current documentation regarding the group highlights this healing practice and cultural transfer extending from rehabilitation centers in Vienna to historical hospitals in Edirne, rather than individual artist profiles.
Instrumental diversity is also one of the cornerstones of the style. The collection of Central Asian and Anatolian instruments ranging from 300 to 400 pieces housed in the archive allows for the preservation of historical tones and integration with contemporary music therapy. This approach, based more on collective cultural heritage transfer and medical applications than individual interpretations, is the most distinct feature separating Tümata from a standard music group. This ongoing work, despite the death of founder Rahmi Oruç Güvenç in 2017, reflects a perspective where music is designed not only as an aesthetic expression but also as a holistic life and healing tool.
Songs
Since Tümata has an academic and therapeutic production focus rather than a commercial music career, forming a standard song repertoire remains limited in light of current sources. Since the group blends traditional Turkish Music and Central Asian Art Music with music therapy studies, their musical productions are defined more through functional compositions and special album series. The only specific work explicitly named in the sources is the piece "Kiyehenni", and there is information that video recordings of this work exist.
In addition, a large part of the group's musical heritage consists of makam-based compositions prepared under the title "Music and Health Series – Receptive, Meditative Music Therapy CDs". Although some of the studies conducted with the accompaniment of different instruments and Sema rituals exist in CD, DVD, and video archives, there is no clear information in the sources regarding a detailed list of all album names or song repertoires published in the group's name. Therefore, Tümata's musical studies are evaluated as a special recording archive presented within the scope of music therapy series and cultural events developed under the leadership of founder Rahmi Oruç Güvenç, rather than specific hit songs.
Context
Tümata has earned its place in Turkish music history not merely as a performance group, but as an interdisciplinary culture-art structure intertwined with academic research and music therapy applications. Although the establishment year is sometimes stated as 1975 in sources, the group, generally established in 1976 under the leadership of Assist. Prof. Dr. Rahmi Oruç Güvenç, carries the mission of researching and introducing Turkish Music. Especially the fact that it operated affiliated to the Istanbul University Ethnomusicology Research and Application Center between 1991 and 1995, and then continued its studies within the Institute of Turkish Studies at Marmara University, is the most fundamental historical context separating the group from traditional music groups. During this period, the structure, which gave weight to ethnomusicological studies, positioned music not only as an aesthetic expression but as a scientific observation and application area.
The group's musical identity spreads to a wide spectrum covering not only deep-rooted traditions such as Turkish Music, Central Asian Art Music, Makam Music, and Sufi Music but also World Music and music therapy disciplines. The opening of a school training music therapists in Vienna and concerts held at historical venues such as the Sultan 2nd Bayezid Hospital in Edirne indicate that this music serves not only as listening material but also as a therapeutic tool. It is known that despite the death of founder Rahmi Oruç Güvenç in 2017, the group maintained its activity. While Güvenç is mentioned as one of the prominent names in the field of music therapy in Turkey, receiving the Honorary Professorship title by Fergana University and successes like the Turkic World Red Apple Award show that the work surpassed Turkic world borders.
When current sources are examined, it is seen that Tümata produced records serving a specific purpose rather than a commercial discography. Although the "Music and Health Series – Receptive, Meditative Music Therapy CDs" and video archives stand out, a complete list of specific album names and a detailed inventory of all represented songs are not clearly present in the sources. Video recordings of some works such as "Kiyehenni" exist, but the limitation of such details shows that the group focused more on academic and therapy-oriented activities. Although sources state that the instrument collection varies between 300 and 400, taking into account the information that they possess over 300 instruments, it can be said that they also carry the mission of a comprehensive museum and research center rather than a music group.
Tümata's legacy is being transferred to the future through its organizational structure that continues even after the founder's death and valuable recognitions such as the Service to Turkic World Award. Sema events carried out uninterruptedly with durations ranging from 3 to 114 days and clinical observations at the Vienna Meidling Rehabilitation Center are a reflection of the group's unique approach of supporting music with scientific data. Even when inconsistencies such as establishment year and instrument number in sources are taken into account, it is indisputable that Tümata is an important reference point constructed on the axis of therapy and academic research in Turkish music literature.
Artistic Legacy and Lasting Impact
Tümata has taken its place in the Turkish music memory not only as an ordinary music group but as an interdisciplinary culture-art and research structure designed under the leadership of Rahmi Oruç Güvenç. Studies conducted by connecting to academic roots such as the Istanbul University Ethnomusicology Research and Application Center and the Institute of Turkish Studies at Marmara University since its early days of establishment have transformed the group from merely a group giving stage performance into a researcher and guardian identity. It can be said that they examined the historical bridges between Central Asian art music and Turkish music both on stage and in the laboratory environment.
One of the group's most striking legacies is their positioning of music as a healing tool. With observations made at the Meidling Rehabilitation Center in Vienna, attempting to support the effect of Turkish music and makams on patients in a coma with scientific data has been noted as a unique pioneering example in the development of music therapy in Turkey. This area to which Güvenç dedicated his life allowed the group to maintain the infrastructure and mission to continue its activities despite his death in 2017.
Although specific album discography stands out less among their artistic productions compared to functional and literary quality compositions like the "Music Therapy Series" and recordings like "Kiyehenni", Tümata's true effect is shaped around the collection of hundreds of instruments gathered in the archivist direction and the sema events it continues. Appreciation and awards received from the Turkic World, primarily Fergana University, show that this legacy is accepted not only locally but also in a global context. Except for small uncertainties between 1975-1976 regarding the establishment year and differences in instrument numbers in sources, the group's academic and artistic stance is clearly documented. Tümata is mentioned as one of the rare structures that left a mark with its researcher and practitioner identity in Turkish music literature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of formation is the Tümata group exactly? Tümata is defined as a versatile culture, art, and therapy center set out under the leadership of founder Rahmi Oruç Güvenç, rather than a performance group, operating under the title "Turkish Music Research and Introduction Group". The group is an interdisciplinary structure that treats music as a healing tool beyond aesthetics and a subject of academic research.
When and by whom was Tümata founded? The group was founded in the mid-1970s. Although the establishment year appears as 1975 in some sources, the generally accepted date is 1976. The structure aimed to bring together Turkish Music, Central Asian Art Music, and Baksı culture with the vision of Assist. Prof. Dr. Rahmi Oruç Güvenç.
Is there a complete album list and song catalog of Tümata published? No, there is no clarity in the sources regarding a complete album list and specific work details. There is no clear information regarding a detailed list of all album names or song repertoires published in the group's name. However, recordings such as "Kiyehenni" and compositions prepared under the title "Music and Health Series" exist.
What do the group's music therapy studies and scientific observations cover? Tümata has implemented practices at rehabilitation centers in Vienna and historical hospitals in Edirne. In studies conducted on patients in a coma at the Vienna Meidling Rehabilitation Center, it was detected that music created positive changes in the brain's alpha and theta waves. Additionally, a school training music therapists was opened in Rosenau, Austria.
Does the group continue its studies after the death of founder Rahmi Oruç Güvenç? Yes, despite founder Rahmi Oruç Güvenç passing away in 2017 during a Sema event on the 66th day, Tümata continues its activities while preserving the legacy. The group continues to transfer the legacy to the future with its organizational structure that maintained its activity even after the founder's death.
What information is found in the sources regarding Tümata's instrument collection? Sources state that the group possesses between 300 and 400 Central Asian and Anatolian instruments. This collection is shown as one of the cornerstones of instrumental diversity that allows for the preservation of historical tones and integration with contemporary music therapy.