Silifke’nin Yogurdu is a work whose first arrangement was written in 2018 for the Wind Orchestra of the Mimar Sinan University State Conservatory, followed by a second arrangement prepared in 2019 for the Istanbul Flute Ensemble. Since then, the piece has been performed in numerous concerts and festivals in Türkiye—most notably in Istanbul and Ayvalik (AIMA International Music Festival)—as well as in Bulgaria, Poland, and the Netherlands. It has also been performed in Atlanta as part of the National Flute Association (NFA) Festival by the Istanbul Flute Ensemble and the Marmara Flute Orchestra, conducted by Prof. Ece Karsal.

Originally a folk song from the Mersin region, Silifke’nin Yogurdu is approached in this arrangement not merely as a setting, but as an original concert work, shaped through its distinctive harmonic language and specially composed solo passages. One of the defining structural elements of the piece is a continuous orchestral crescendo that unfolds throughout the work. This gradually intensifying orchestration recalls the well-known technique employed in Maurice Ravel’s Boléro.

The use of wooden spoons (kasik) in the piece goes beyond a purely rhythmic function; it serves as a symbolic reference to the wedding and entertainment traditions of the Silifke region. By emphasizing the direct relationship between music and bodily movement, the spoon rhythm becomes a significant element that reinforces the work’s local identity.

The arrangement is constructed as a sequence of multiple Silifke folk melodies, presented consecutively through transitional passages. Many folk songs from the Silifke region revolve around themes of daily life, love, celebration, and communal unity, having been transmitted orally across generations. In this respect, the work offers a cohesive narrative that brings together regional folk music traditions and contemporary flute orchestra writing.


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