Neşet Ertaş Museum to open in Kırşehir

KIRŞEHİR - Anatolia News Agency

An old mansion in Kırşehir to be transformed to Neşet Ertaş Museum, celebrating the life and art of Turkish folk music composer, singer and bağlama.

An old governor’s mansion in Kırşehir will be revamped and reopened as a museum celebrating the life and art of Turkish folk music composer, singer and bağlama virtuoso Neşet Ertaş, who died in a hospital in the Agean province of İzmir on Sept. 25.

Speaking to Anatolia News Agency, Kırşehir mayor Özdemir Çakacak said the mansion will be organized according to a museum plan that is currently in the works. Çakacak noted that he has informed Ertaş’s son, Hüseyin Ertaş, of the measures and that Tourism Minister Ertüğrul Günay is also interested in the project. A written statement sent by the Ak Party Kırşehir MP Abdullah Çalışkan echoed Günay’s interest, saying they have spoken to the minister regarding the museum.

With an aim to exhibit the heritage of Turkish folk music and pass on Ertaş’s art to future generations, the museum will likely open on Sept. 25, 2013, the first anniversary of Ertaş’s death.

Ertaş is known as a “halk ozanı,” which literally means “folk poet.” The singer was born in 1938 in Kırtıllar, a village in the Central Anatolian province of Kırşehir, to his folk poet father, Muharrem Ertaş, and mother, Döne Koç.

Ertaş went to primary school for just two years but quickly became a master at the bağlama. The singer is also known for interpreting musical pieces of the Abdal tradition, following his father’s influence.

According to Çakacak, the museum will feature albums, vinyl records, posters, pictures, personal belongings and musical instruments of various traditional folk poets and singers.

“Not only Neşet Ertaş but also famous folk singers such as Muharrem Ertaş, Çekiç Ali and Şemsi Yastıman will be highlighted.