The Theory of Infinite Usûl: The Darbeyn Phenomenon in Turkish Music

This study aims to comprehensively examine the concept of Darbeyn usûl within the broader framework of usûl theory, which essentially constitutes the foundational rhythmic architecture of traditional Turkish music. Conducted on the primary hypothesis that the phenomenon of Darbeyn usûl inherently provides composers of Turkish music with highly expansive and theoretically open-ended temporal dimension, the research initially explores the traditional classification of usûl and meticulously explicates the underlying theoretical framework of Darbeyn usûl. Historically, the established theoretical literature defines Darbeyn merely as the sequential combination of two or more distinct usûls, strictly confining its practical application to eight specific, formalized combinations. However, the empirical findings of this study critically demonstrate that such a rigid limitation is neither historically accurate nor theoretically conclusive. Driven by these crucial observations, the present study actively seeks to develop a novel, more inclusive approach to the conceptualization and theorization of Darbeyn. Employing a rigorous historical research design, the investigation meticulously analyzes primary sources, specifically examining historical musical scores preserved within the prestigious Cüneyd Kosal and Kemal Batanay archives currently housed at the İSAM Library. Through this detailed archival analysis, the research successfully identifies numerous previously undocumented Darbeyn usûl combinations that constructively challenge conventional rhythmic paradigms. Ultimately, the study concludes that the phenomenon of Darbeyn usûl, by offering composers innumerable and complex rhythmic combinations, in fact generates a vast and combinatorially open-ended rhythmic domain. This expansive domain significantly broadens the compositional palette, thereby enabling profoundly greater flexibility, structural innovation, and relative expressive freedom in the intricate process of aesthetic musical creation.