About Tumata
TUMATA (The Group for the Research and Promotion of Turkish Music) was founded by Asst. Prof. Dr. Rahmi Oruc Guvenc in 1976, and research in theory and application is being carried out, comprising the subjects of Turkish music history, its instruments and their manufacturing techniques and specialties, repertory elements and execution methods within the scope of comperative music history (Ethnomusicology).
Musical healing and movement therapy tradition, which uses ethnomusical elements within the environment of modern medical science, has an important place in Turkish history and culture. TUMATA, has united the residue of knowledge in musical healing and movement therapy that has reached our time, with clinical and laboratory experiments.
The research on Psychogalvanic reflex and its relation with music in Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, during clinical psychology doctorate programme (between 1976-80), the computurised EEG analysis and the effects of Turkish musical tonalities in Berlin Urban Hospital (in 1986-90) and the findings in the neurology, cardiology, oncology, geriatry , immunology projects which are still continuing in Vienna Medling Clinic (since 2001), shed light on the importance and essence of Turkish music therapy tradition in today's world.
With the decree of Istanbul Marmara University Senate dated 18th February 1997, and the decree of 'Munich Hochschule fur Music' dated 06 May 1997, an educational pilot project on Turkish music therapy tradition and its application has began between the Austrian Eastern Music Therapy School, Munich Academy of Advanced Music and Theatre and the Turkic Research Institute of Marmara University. Apart from these, since 1986, research within the educational programme of the Austrian Rosenau Eastern Music Therapy School and educational courses in Zurich, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin and Mennheim are continuing. The music therapy specialists which have received instruction from Asst. Prof. Dr. Rahmi Oruc Guvenc are continuing curing and healing activities in clinics in Austria and Germany.
European connections, schooling and training efforts in European countries, concerts and seminars are being coordinated by psychologist and theologist Gerhard Kadir Tucek. Ethnomusicology Foundation was established in Vienna in 1986. The school started its education program in 1989. Ethnomusictherapy Institution was founded by G. Kadir Tuek in 1999 and educational musictherapy programs are being carried out in Rosenaw, Zurich, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin and Mannheim. This institute and its scientific programs with clinical cooperation has a past reaching as far as 1993. Amongst the projects undertaken in Meidling (Vienna), the oldest is a neurolojik research program.
Cardiology research is continuing since 2000; onkology research is continuing since 2001, clinical research related with the handicapped is continuing since 1993.
Elements of Ethnomusicology and music therapy which have reached today are the disposition of a long historical and cultural accumulation and are being brought to life and promoted by TUMATA members which reach the number of 25, in countrywide and around the world concerts, seminars, conferences, symposia and TV programmes. In the museum in Istanbul, over 300 authentic musical instruments* from Turkic provinces, which are being used in live performances have being gathered and exhibited. Members of the group come together in certain days of the week and reherse concert repertory and music therapy applications. Various clinical activities are still being continued.Members of TUMATA have taken part in many national and international festivals, concerts and seminar activities.
In Bakirkoy Mental Disorders Hospital, musical and movement therapy programmes have been implemented on patients with Dr. Arif Verimli (1997-1999).