ABSTRACT
This chapter provides some general observations about the role of Cretan Muslims in the music of the island. It describes certain differences between the ways Cretan music developed among Cretans in Crete and Cretans in Turkey after the departure of the last Muslims from the island and proposes explanations for these differences. In contrast with developments in Crete itself the story of Cretan music as it continued to be performed by the emigre Muslims is essentially one cf slow decline and, virtual extinction. The majority of Muslims resident in Crete from the Ottoman period to the final large-scale exchange of populations were Greek speaking. When people consider the position that a Cretan Muslim musician would be in upon arrival in Turkey people can see that the commercial potential for exploiting his music was minimal. Cretan Muslims were unwilling to assert their Cretan musical heritage, even where it was retained for more private celebrations, partly for reasons of caution.
