The aim of the study is to explain the term of "interpretation " which is frequently used by music critics or the public when it comes to an aesthetic evaluation of a performance, to explain the expression of the propositions about this concept in Turkish folk music and to explain the status of the “interpretation” in the tradition. For this purpose, the relevant literature was scanned and the terms were explained in accordance with expert opinions. In Turkish music terminology, the term "interpretation" and concepts related to “interpretation” are controversial and vary according to experts. When the term "interpretation" is examined in terms of music science, it cannot be considered separately from the terms "üslûp" (style), and "tavır". If these terms are considered from general to specific, first "üslûp", then "tavır" and then a personalized "interpretation" can be obtained by combining these two terms. The whole of musical genres and performance styles in a region with certain commonalities constitutes "üslûp". The perspective of the individual performances of the performers in these fields constitutes the "tavır" specific to the performer. Individual performance combined with a certain "üslûp" and personal "tavır" constitutes a folk song or genre-specific "interpretation". During the research process, the performances of eight folk songs recorded in different time periods by different performers from the region/community selected for the sample were examined. The examined folk songs and voice recordings of five different performers were directed to an online cloud resource via QR code and made available to the researchers. The changes, reproduction and individual performance processes identified during this analysis, clearly reveal the existence of the concept of "interpretation" in Turkish folk music. In traditional music, the factor that makes a song permanent is "interpretation". Considering traditional music without "interpretation" means that this type of music becomes periodic and disappears over time.

Keywords: Turkish Folk Music, Interpretation, Interpreter, Interpret.