{"id":8975,"date":"2024-07-03T11:26:08","date_gmt":"2024-07-03T08:26:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tumata.com\/rahmi-oruc-guvenc\/"},"modified":"2026-09-08T16:54:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T13:54:00","slug":"rahmi-oruc-guvenc","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tumata.com\/en\/rahmi-oruc-guvenc\/","title":{"rendered":"Rahmi Oru\u00e7 G\u00fcven\u00e7"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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TEDx Talk | Rahmi Oru\u00e7 G\u00fcven\u00e7<\/div>
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Life<\/div>

Who Is Rahmi Oru\u00e7 G\u00fcven\u00e7?<\/span><\/h3><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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28.07.1948-05.07.2017<\/strong><\/p>

World-renowned musician, music and movement therapist, ethnomusicologist, psychologist, sociologist, and<\/strong> Sufi Dr. Rahmi Oru\u00e7 G\u00fcven\u00e7 was born<\/strong> in 1948 in Tav\u015fanl\u0131, K\u00fctahya, as the second son of<\/strong> Urkiye<\/strong> and Kamil G\u00fcven\u00e7<\/strong>. His family is of Kazan Tatar descent. He has an older brother named Ya\u015far G\u00fcven\u00e7 <\/strong> and a younger brother named Nejat<\/strong> G\u00fcven\u00e7<\/strong>. <\/p>

He began his musical career in middle school, following a dream he had at the age of 12, by taking violin lessons from his music teacher, Fethi Bey; during his college years, he learned to play the oud, rebab, ney, and tanbur. He was a member of the D\u00f6n\u00fc\u015f\u00fcm Music Group for many years, playing instruments such as the rebab and a\u011f\u0131z kopuzu, and recorded numerous albums with the group. <\/p>

Between 1975 and 1976, <\/strong>he founded the<\/strong> T\u00dcMATA<\/strong> (Research and Promotion of Turkish Music) Group<\/strong>and, throughout his life, conducted research on music therapy, the history of Turkish music, and Sufism, both in Turkey and abroad.<\/p>

From his <\/strong>marriage to <\/strong>his first wife, Assoc. Prof. Dr.<\/strong> Selminaz Ad\u0131g\u00fczel <\/strong>, in 1987 and 1989, he had two daughters: Hatice S\u00fcy\u00fcmbike G\u00fcven\u00e7 Noris<\/strong> and Emine Beg\u00fcm Kan\u0131key G\u00fcven\u00e7 Ak\u00e7ay<\/strong>. He subsequently continued his work and travels alongside his second wife, Azize Andrea G\u00fcven\u00e7<\/strong>, an occupational therapist, music therapist, and researcher-author. <\/p>

On July 5, 2017<\/strong>, following a surgical procedure, he passed away due to a heart attack, leaving behind a invaluable legacy through his contributions to Turkish and world history.<\/p>

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EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND AND WORK EXPERIENCE <\/span><\/h3><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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After completing his high school education at K\u00fctahya High School, he graduated from the Department of Philosophy at the Faculty of Letters, Istanbul University<\/strong>, and wrote a philosophical book titled *Those Beloved by God \u2013 Hazrat Mevl\u00e2n\u00e2*.<\/strong> During this time, he continued his music education and learned to play the ud, rebab, ney, and tanbur. <\/p>

After graduating from the Department of Philosophy at Istanbul University\u2019s Faculty of Letters<\/strong>, he earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology<\/strong> with a focus on music therapy under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Ayhan Songar at the Psychiatry Clinic of Cerrahpa\u015fa Faculty of Medicine,<\/strong>becoming the sole expert in this field.<\/p>

Later, he founded the Turkish Music Research and Application Center at Cerrahpa\u015fa Faculty of Medicine<\/strong> . During the same period, he wrote a book titled ” History of Turkish Music and Turkish Therapeutic Music”<\/strong> .<\/p>

He was promoted to the rank of assistant professor of ethnomusicology by the Inter-University Council. After Ayhan Songar\u2019s retirement, he left Cerrahpa\u015fa Faculty of Medicine and served as a faculty member in the Research and Promotion Unit for Turkish Music<\/strong> at the Institute of Turkish Studies at Marmara University<\/strong>, from which he retired. <\/p>

Dr. Oru\u00e7 G\u00fcven\u00e7 served as head of the \u201cDepartment of Music Ethnology, Research, and Music Therapy\u201d<\/strong> at Istanbul University<\/strong>from 1991 to 1996. This work was made possible through collaboration with Prof. Dr. \u0130nci Engin\u00fcn and, in particular, Prof. Dr. \u00d6mer Faruk Bat\u0131rel at Marmara University, as well as Prof. Dr. Ayhan Songar at Istanbul University. <\/p>

In 1975<\/strong>, he founded the T\u00dcMATA (Research and Promotion of Turkish Music)<\/strong> group. Within this group, he researches the origins and therapeutic value of Central Asian-derived Turkish music. He examines traditional Central Asian Turkish folk music, the instruments used to perform it, the costumes worn on stage, and the stage decorations and patterns, documenting and performing these elements. In conducting this work, Oru\u00e7 G\u00fcven\u00e7 aims to explore these materials from social, cultural, pedagogical, therapeutic, and spiritual perspectives. <\/p>

In fact, many long-forgotten instruments have been reproduced and made to produce sound in a manner fully consistent with their originals\u2014using horsehair, coconut, wood, and various animal hides\u2014by drawing on the illustrations found in miniatures.Thus, a research group consisting of musicians, dancers, and singers was established to revive these traditions by using and applying the discovered historical materials exactly as described in the old methods. Today, more than 400 musical instruments\u2014collected over time from Central Asia and Anatolia\u2014can be seen at the T\u00dcMATA center (Ota\u011f Music Center) in Istanbul. <\/p>

Meanwhile , Germany<\/strong>has trained countless students in the \u201cTherapy Through Turkish Music<\/strong> \u201d courses it has established in Austria, Switzerland, and Spain<\/strong>. Many of the graduates are currently working at various medical, educational, and rehabilitation-focused organizations and institutes, putting what they have learned into practice. <\/p>

Istanbul University, in collaboration with the school in Austria (Schule f\u00fcr Altorientalische Musik und Kunsttherapie, A-3924 Schloss Rosenau, Niederneustift 66),<\/strong> has contributed to the organization of three music therapy and ethnomusicology symposia and two ethnomusicology music festivals as part of a joint effort with the University of Vienna<\/strong>, and has played an active role in both the theoretical and practical aspects of these activities.<\/p>

In 1992<\/strong>, the Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences<\/strong> awarded him the title of honorary professor<\/strong> at Fergana University<\/strong>. That same year , Argentina\u2019s Academia de las Naciones honored G\u00fcven\u00e7 with an award of distinction.<\/strong> <\/p>

G\u00fcven\u00e7, who served as the representative in Turkey for the<\/strong> Munich-based<\/strong>World Association for Psychodynamic Psychiatry (WASP), was also awarded a certificate of appreciation and achievement from the University of Massachusetts in Boston, U.S. (1993).<\/strong><\/p>

He received the<\/strong> 1996 Award for Outstanding Service<\/strong> in the field of music research from the Motif Folk Dance Education Association<\/strong>.<\/p>

The T\u00fcmata group, led by Rahmi Oru\u00e7 G\u00fcven\u00e7, participated in the Song of Friendship Festival<\/strong>held in Neftekamsk, Bashkortostan<\/strong>, from February 24 to 28, 1998, and was awarded third place.<\/strong><\/p>

In 2004, he was awarded the Service to the Turkic World Award<\/strong> by T\u00dcRKSAV ( <\/strong>Foundation of Writers and Artists of the Turkic World). In 2016, he was awarded the \u201cTurkic World Red Apple Award.\u201d<\/strong> <\/p>

In collaboration with Marmara University, the Rosenau School of Music Therapy in Austria, and the University of Munich\u2019s Higher Academy of Music<\/strong>, this university has launched its \u201cPilot Project on Therapy with Turkish Music.\u201d<\/strong> <\/p>

It has<\/strong> also launched music and movement therapy training courses in<\/strong> Berlin<\/strong> and Mannheim,<\/strong> Germany<\/strong> ; Zurich, Switzerland<\/strong> ;<\/strong> and Barcelona<\/strong> and Madrid<\/strong> , Spain<\/strong> .<\/strong><\/p>

Since 2003 ,<\/strong> 5 \u201cBridge of Friendship Festivals,\u201d<\/strong> 10 \u201cFrom the Heart to Medicine\u2014 From Medicine to the Heart: Preparing for the Future Symposium<\/strong>, \u201d<\/strong> 12\u201cVoice of Light Concerts<\/strong>\u201d in 5 countries, and 4 \u201cRebab Tour Concerts\u201d<\/strong>featuring 35 rebabs.<\/p>

She served as a coordinator<\/strong> in the regulatory drafting process for the \u201cGeneral Directorate of Complementary Medicine\u201d<\/strong> established within the Ministry of Health<\/strong>, specifically in the fields of occupational therapy and music therapy .<\/strong><\/p>

In addition to the projects she organized both in Turkey and abroad, she taught \u201cMovement Therapy Through Music\u201d<\/strong> courses in the Department of<\/strong> Occupational Therapy at \u00dcsk\u00fcdar University from 2013 to 2017<\/strong>, striving to prepare Turkish youth in this field.<\/p>

Also, instrument museums that have recently opened across Turkey (K\u0131r\u015fehir Ne\u015fet Erta\u015f Museum and<\/strong> He served as a consultant for the Turkish World Science, Culture and Art Center (Eski\u015fehir)<\/strong> , personally procuring instruments and working to demonstrate how to play these instruments through example videos.<\/p>

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PERFORMANCES HE HAS GIVEN<\/span><\/h3><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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He organized and carried out \u201cnonstop Sema\u201d<\/strong> programs lasting 3, 5, 7, 9, 16, 40, 66, 99, and 114 days<\/strong> in various countries around the world, and on the 66th day of the most recent 114-day Sema program, on July 5, 2017<\/strong>, he passed away and was embraced by God\u2019s mercy. <\/p>

Sema gatherings that have taken place:<\/p>

In 1998, while the topic of Sema was being discussed at a seminar in Switzerland, those present expressed a desire to organize a Sema ceremony similar to those held during the time of Hazrat Mevl\u00e2n\u00e2<\/strong> ;<\/strong> as a result, a Sema ceremony lasting three days and three nights was held in Switzerland.<\/strong> During this event, the Sema continued nonstop for three days and three nights, with the semazen rotating. The music played continuously, with the musicians rotating. <\/p>

The three-day, three-night sema held in Switzerland served as a starting point for similar events<\/strong>, as everyone who participated was exceptionally pleased .<\/strong><\/p>

Following this first long sema, numerous semas were organized in Switzerland, Turkey, Germany, Austria, and Spain<\/strong>.<\/p>

The lengths and numbers of the flights conducted in these five countries to date are listed below:<\/p>

  • 36 times, 3 days and 3 nights<\/li>
  • 5 times, 5 days, 5 nights<\/li>
  • 7 times 7 days and 7 nights<\/li>
  • Once: 9 days and 9 nights<\/li>
  • 1 time, 16 days, 16 nights<\/li>
  • 3 times 40 days and 40 nights<\/li>
  • Once, 66 days and 66 nights<\/li>
  • Once, 99 days and 99 nights<\/li>
  • Once: 114 days and 114 nights<\/li><\/ul>

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    WORKS<\/span><\/h3><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Articles about his work have appeared in both domestic and international media, and he has been featured in various television and documentary programs.<\/p>\n

    He produced a thirteen-episode<\/strong> series titled\u201cBehind the Scenes of Our Music\u201d<\/strong> for the TRT channel.<\/p>\n

    While pursuing his doctorate at Cerrahpa\u015fa Faculty of Medicine<\/strong>, he wrote a book titled *History of Turkish Music and Turkish Therapeutic Music*.<\/strong> <\/p>\n

    He has written a book titled “Those Beloved by Allah \u2013 Hazrat Mevl\u00e2n\u00e2<\/strong>,“<\/strong> which has also been published in English and German, as well as a book on“Music Therapy.”<\/strong> <\/p>\n

    He also<\/strong> co-authored a work titled \u201cEy Yolcu\/Hey Reisender\u201d<\/strong> in German with his wife, Andrea Azize G\u00fcven\u00e7<\/strong>, and their daughter, E.B.Kan\u0131key G\u00fcven\u00e7 Ak\u00e7ay<\/strong> and S\u00fcy\u00fcmbike G\u00fcven\u00e7 Noris<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

    He has composed works in the genres of Classical Turkish Music and Sufi Music, for which he wrote both the lyrics and the music.<\/p>\n

    <\/strong> He discovered a musical mode called “ Tarz-\u0131 Vefa<\/strong> ” and composed a saz semai and a pe\u015frev<\/strong> in that mode .<\/strong><\/p>\n

    He has produced numerous CDs<\/strong>on Turkish classical<\/strong>music with the T\u00dcMATA Group, as well as albums on Central Asian music<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    Recording has been completed for the album titled \u201cKendi Gelenler,\u201d<\/strong> which features his own compositions, and it is among the projects expected to be completed soon.<\/p>\n

    NOTE: There are plans to turn the apartment in \u00dcsk\u00fcdar, where he lived for many years, into a museum. <\/strong><\/p>\n

    We ask anyone who can assist with this matter to contact us at tumata.tr@gmail.com <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    TEDx Talk | Rahmi Oru\u00e7 G\u00fcven\u00e7 Life Who Is Rahmi Oru\u00e7 G\u00fcven\u00e7? 28.07.1948-05.07.2017 World-renowned musician, music and movement therapist, ethnomusicologist, psychologist, sociologist, and Sufi Dr. Rahmi Oru\u00e7 G\u00fcven\u00e7 was born in 1948 in Tav\u015fanl\u0131, K\u00fctahya, as the second son of Urkiye and Kamil G\u00fcven\u00e7. His family is of Kazan Tatar descent. He has an older […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8975","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tumata.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8975","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tumata.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tumata.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tumata.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tumata.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8975"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tumata.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8975\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8979,"href":"https:\/\/tumata.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8975\/revisions\/8979"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tumata.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8975"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}