Besteci

Besteci is a Turkish noun meaning “composer,” i.e., a person who writes music. The term is formed from beste, meaning a musical composition, with the agentive suffix -ci, which designates someone who creates or produces. In Turkish, bestekâr is a closely related term with a similar meaning, though besteci is more common in contemporary usage.

It is used across multiple musical domains, including classical Turkish art music, folk-inspired works, film and television scores, and contemporary genres such as pop and jazz. A besteci may be involved in conceiving melodies, harmonies, orchestration, and the overall structure of a work; they can work alone or in collaboration with performers, arrangers, or producers.

Historically, composers in the Turkish tradition have been known as besteciler or bestekârlar. Notable Turkish bestecis include Cemal Reşit Rey, Ahmet Adnan Saygun, and Fazıl Say, who have contributed to orchestral, operatic, and concert repertoire as well as film and media scores. The term encompasses a wide range of styles, from classical art music to contemporary film music and popular song.

See also: Turkish music, List of Turkish composers.