A STRUCTURAL AND NARRATIVE ANALYSIS OF FAZIL SAY'S 3 BALLADS FAZIL SAY’IN 3 BALAD ESERİ ÜZERİNE YAPISAL VE ANLATIMSAL BİR İNCELEME
Yegah Musicology Journal, cilt.8, sa.3, ss.1650-1674, 2025 (Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 8 Sayı: 3
- Basım Tarihi: 2025
- Doi Numarası: 10.51576/ymd.1711479
- Dergi Adı: Yegah Musicology Journal
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1650-1674
- Anahtar Kelimeler: ballad, contemporary music, Fazıl Say, piano work, structural analysis
- Maltepe Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This article presents a structural and technical analysis of “3 Ballads”, a piano composition by Fazıl Say an innovative Turkish composer renowned for blending Western classical music traditions with Anatolian cultural elements. In this work, Say adopts a distinctly narrative compositional approach, crafting a piece that intertwines technical complexity with emotional depth. The study employs qualitative research methods, specifically descriptive and document analysis, to investigate the work's musical structure and interpretive dimensions. “3 Ballads” is a tripartite composition for solo piano, in which each section presents a unique expressive style and unfolds a distinct narrative arc, guiding the listener through varied emotional landscapes. As a result of the analyses, it was determined that Nazım exhibits a lyrical and melancholic character, distinguished by its harmonic structure built upon a tonic pedal and the use of extended chords; Kumru stands out with its warm and hopeful atmosphere, octave displacements, and a harmonic palette rich in seventh chords; and Sevenlere Dair addresses the theme of love through a tonal framework, syncopated rhythms, chromatic transitions, and contrasting articulations. Across the work as a whole, various adaptations of the Lied form, thematic cohesion, and Fazıl Say’s distinctive harmonic colors are evident. In this respect, 3 Ballads makes a significant contribution to the modern piano repertoire, offering pianists a rich field for the development of technical mastery, interpretative depth, and musical expression.