Greek and Turkish music thread

by **judith** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 8:36 pm

Oops, we posted at the same time. My former post was about the first video you posted. Now I'm enjoying Roza's.

by **Chris P** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 8:43 pm

yes Pauline, I'm a Rosa Eskenazi fan for sure! The DVD film of her life (posted about a while back while it was in the pipeline), with much modern-day living-breathing music making by a group of afficiandos of all ages and nationalities, is now finally available - and very good it is too! (if pricey)

http://www.mysweetcanary.com/

I do particularly like the kanun, violin, oud & kemenche stylings of Smyrneika rebetika, very different from the bouzouki dominated Piraeus style. That quick intro Youtube rebetika clip mentions both styles, but only has a Piraeus soundtrack - now you've balanced that up with the Rosa - nice one!

* and good to have that Turkish lyric translation to English on the video (Rosa was born in Constantinople/Istanbul in a Sephardic family who moved to Greece when she was still a young girl)

by **kastamonu** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 8:50 pm

Thanks Chris & I'll look out for the DVD - just a chance I'll be returning to UK in the next year or so - will look out for you and Phil in London & won't lose touch on the Forum!

Bests.
P.

by **Chris P** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 8:56 pm

Ok great, maybe meet up for some music in London sometime :) I only get over there about a handful of times a year (living 100+ miles away & much closer to Bristol, Oxford and Brum), but they're very often music-related visits esp. Turkish etc.

by **kastamonu** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:24 pm

Not sure where we'll end up - might start out in or near Kings Lynn/Norfolk but I love London so will get there as often as poss!

Thanks for the music this evening (& thanks to Judith for her input(s) :)

by **Chris P** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:28 pm

kastamonu wrote:Thanks for the music this evening

and to you! Have a happy move if it goes ahead - keep us posted

by **kastamonu** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:52 pm

Couldn't resist a last post (I LOVE this!) Think Phil will appreciate too - Bournovalia (the girl from Bournova District) - maybe today's Bornova Area (in Izmir)?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UmTxw3hdO4

by **Chris P** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 10:33 pm

Copying this over from Youtube recommendations:

http://youtu.be/L2Ew6JzfZC8

STONE CLASSIC!

"Flaked snow falls upon the poor
Why the faith is not taking the poor's word
We've starved to death, come now sir please

Some are member of the parliment, some are governer, it's forbidden for us to get paid
I can't stand your fake pose anymore
We're doomed, education to us, roads to us, life to us,
Come now sir, please, please, please, please, please please...

Why is it so hard to build new roads,
To build schools, to restore life
please, please, please, please please...

Why isn't Urfa like your Istanbul?*
Poor Maraş, dry Urfa, what about Diyarbakır?
We're doomed, we're dead, a drop of water
Come now sir, please...

We're dead, send a letter, come now sir,
please, please, please, please, please please...

Why is it so hard to give lands,
To love, to know oneself

please, please, please, please please...

We weren't born as lords, my friend,
Let's live together, don't think I'm upset with you,
I'm doomed, don't be seperated, come now, brother,
please, please, please, please, please please...

Why is it so hard to give lands,
To pay debts, to know oneself,
please, please, please brother please..."

by **Chris P** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 10:40 pm

It was lyrics like these, and the referencing of Diyarbakır too, where Armenians and Kurds were slaughtered, no doubt, that earned Selda a jail term in the mid 70s

by **tulsehill charlie** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:09 am

Strong stuff. There's a good biography here http://psychanatolia.wikia.com/wiki/Selda_Ba%C4%9Fcan
I know that there have been a number of well-known musical/political activists from that region of Turkey, for all the reasons Selda lists in her song. I was introduced to the music of Ahmet Kaya when I was last in Turkey, and visited some wonderful places - Sanliurfa (the Urfa Selda mentions) Adana and Gaziantep, but to my great disappointment didn't make it to Batman.

by **kastamonu** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:27 pm

Oh thank you Chris - she is one of our favourites here in Foça.

To Charlie - I first heard her music & heard about her life - when travelling in my (then) partner's Uncle's car across the brown, arid Mesopotamian plain near to Adıyaman (where my (now) husband Aydın is from. There were amazing (almost Biblical) villages atop mountains & I (personally) found the whole thing bewitching! I have been to Urfa twice -gorgeous - Antep & Mardin definitely on my 'must-see' list on further visits East. (Nemrut mountain (& its giant Heads) and Harran (on the Syrian border!) not to be missed either - the sheer hospitality of the (often very very poor) people is wonderful. (Ibrahim Tatlises hails from Harran - a beehive-type complex of mud-houses, beautifully restored with amazing low couches, colourful rugs and old artefacts). The begging children are enchanting but can be a bit of a problem - difficult.....

Sorry Chris - you know I always wax a bit lyrical on this thread - back to Selda -

she must be in her 50's (at least) now & often performs on TV - I've seen her dueting with the lovely Zara - I almost prefer her voice now she's older - will attempt to attach a lovely folk-song from her very early days - never fails to get to me - title meaning 'Where are you'??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnpzEzZM9A8

I shall digest the above posts more thoroughly when time permits (also that biography!)

Bests.

by **kastamonu** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:31 pm

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4idm8 ... -bak_music

'Kendine iyi bak' - 'Look after yourself' (he is an icon amongst the Kurds here in Turkey).

by **Chris P** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 8:05 pm

kastamonu wrote: a lovely folk-song from her very early days - never fails to get to me - title meaning 'Where are you'??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnpzEzZM9A8

Simply gorgeous! The album ('Selda' 1975 - reissued by Finders Keepers 6 or so years ago) is full of great tunes & interesting arrangements. The follow up album Vurulduk Ey Halkim, Unutma Bizi (Oh People Were Shot, Remember Us) is very fine too.
I'd love to know what Aydın thinks of Selda, and what she means to any Turks (and esp. Kurds) who were listening to music in the 70s (although that'll be too far back for Aydın, maybe he has uncles or aunts etc who were fans?).

So please keep waxing lyrical Pauline (and TH Charlie!) - that's what I really enjoy about your posts!

PS more Selda postings on the youtube thread:
http://www.charliegillett.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=19836&p=107726#p107726

by **Chris P** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 9:27 pm

kastamonu wrote:she must be in her 50's (at least) now & often performs on TV - I've seen her dueting with the lovely Zara

this one?
http://youtu.be/EzjTcnXU9j0

by **kastamonu** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 9:42 pm

Spot on! Just superb (I agree with the 5***** comment on the link!) And yes - Aydın is a huge fan (as is his Uncle Zia & probably his other uncles too!) (& aunts!)

(and isn't Zara just ravishingly beautiful! ;) She mainly performs in traditional Kurdish dress.

Thanks for such a nice end to the day Chris. Signing off from Eski Foça on a bitter cold night ......

Greek and Turkish music thread

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Re: Greek and Turkish music thread - Selda B

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