Very informative, Vineyard!

Âşık Veysel

Veysel Satiroglu - in Turkey better-known as Asik Veysel - was born in the Anatolian village of Sivriala in 1894. His peasant parents already – before his birth – lost two daughters because of the smallpox epidemic. At the age of 7 he got the virus and had gone blind. From this time onward his life was full of misery. His only consolation was the ‘saz’ (a long-necked lute, traditional instrument of the musician-poets) which he got from his father who liked the Bektasi dervish songs, and who often visited the tekke (the place where Alevians held their service). Asiks and Ozans – wanderer musicians - were frequent visitors in their house.

Veysel took his first lessons from his father’s friend called Asik Ala who told him about the great Yunus Emre, Pir Sultan Abdal, Karacaoğlan, Dertli and the others. His first famous poem was about Kemal Atatürk and it was written in 1933. (that year was the 10th anniversary of the announcement of the republic.) He wanted to show it to the ‘saviour of Turkey’ as he called Atatürk, so he set up with his friend and went to Ankara on foot. The meeting didn’t take place but his poem was published.

With his devoted companion Kücük Veysel – who also helped him in singing – wandered tirelessly in the Anatolian villages. His self-written songs were known and liked by many. Through such a journey in 1956 he was introduced to Alain Gheerbrant – the excellent French ethnographer- with whom he made local recordings in 1985. These recordings were published in Paris by OCORA.

My attraction to him was drawn by this publication which reflected his humanity and artistic grandee. The encounter with him was brought into existence by Sabahattin Eyüboğlu who was the tireless organizer of the Turkish literature and wrote about Asik Veysel: “This man educated himself with great patience and suffering. He represents ancestral traditions in his poetical world and instrumental play. Perhaps he is the last authentic figure of the musician-poetry, lute poetry. He was conscious about his age and kept an eye on the events of Turkey and the world. He created a new poetry accompanied by the ancient saz. His thoughts - risen from a world that sank into obscurity – can be a help in finding solutions to problems of modern man.”

Asik Veysel died in 21st March 1973. His birthplace is now a museum. CD-s and tapes of his songs sell really well, recently the Kalan Müzik Yapum Ltd. broadcasted a wide selection of his songs.

www.etnofon.hu/kobzosszivetek_ang.htm

awesome: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qykZ9ncyi0

He is the best,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm6Jppa-oCc please translate your poem!

Quite often you notice his Turtle painting displayed in different stores and restaurants in Turkey.

Also love this theme:

Tavla playing Zeybek

in Spanish:
Escucho Estambul

Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados
Al principio hay una suave brisa
Y las hojas de los árboles
Se mueven suavemente;
Por allí­, lejos
Las campanas de los aguadores suenan sin parar;
Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados.

Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados;
Después, de repente, los pájaros vuelan,
Bandadas de pájaros ascienden con griterí­o,
Mientras las redes arrastran los fondos de pescado
Y los pies de una mujer chapotean en el agua.
Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados.

Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados.
El Gran Bazar está sereno y frí­o,
Un alboroto en el centro del Mercado,
Los patios de las mezquitas se llenan de pichones.
Mientras los martillos repiquetean en los muelles
Vientos de primavera traen olores de sudor;
Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados.

Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados;
Todaví­a mareado del jolgorio del pasado,
Una mansión junto al mar con descoloridos
embarcaderos está casi dormida.
Entre el susurro de vientos del sur, relajado,
Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados.

Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados
Una chica preciosa camina por la acera:
Palabras de cuatro letras, silbidos y canciones, rudos comentarios;
Algo cae de su mano
Es una rosa, supongo
Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados.

Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados.
Un pájaro aletea en tu falda;
En tu frente, ¿hay sudor? ¿O no? Yo lo sé
¿Están tus labios húmedos? ¿O no? Yo lo sé
Una luna de plata se alza tras los pinos
Puedo sentirlo todo en los latidos de tu corazón
Escucho Estambul con los ojos cerrados.

Translation into Spanish by Angeles Martinez

The "Turtle Trainer" is one of Osman Hamdi Bey's most original and creative works. It subtly portrays this basic social message: that change is difficult, requiring much patience, in fact the patience of a sufi dervish.

The five turtles in this portrait symbolize a stubborn, resistant and slow changing society. Some even believe that they represent the five most difficult associates of Osman Hamdi, giving him heartburn. The turtle trainer, dressed in a red dervish robe and a turban, holding a ney (sufi flute) is Osman Hamdi, representing a patient intellectual that is coaching change. A change he hopes to teach primarily by blowing his ney and occasionally by using it to prod or reprimand the animals. Unfortunately, the turtles have no ears to hear the ney and with a thick protective shell they are also not bothered by his prodding. His efforts are futile. Osman Hamdi Bey's calls for westernization are met by deaf ears and much resistance by the establishment and the conservative segments. By Emin Pamucak

From Galata Tower:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsjsLXGAnjU&mode=related&search=istanbul%20prayer



Namaz:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YPPEcKywkk&mode=related&search=istanbul%20blue%20mosque%20cami%20sultan%20ahmet%20ezan%20sunset%20gunes%20bati%20martilar%20turkiye%20turkije%20turkey%20moskee%20culture%20cultuur


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU1JBtYlN-A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C1UXSHwpdA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu6FRqbFWiA&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erdU3uzEi6k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDwLOD7WVu8&mode=related&search=cami

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

Müzeyyen Senar
Leila and Majnun (movie)

http://www.thy.com/en-INT/corporate/skylife/article.aspx?mkl=74

Diva of Turkish art music Müzeyyen Senar continues to conquer hearts with her unforgettable songs

http://www.thy.com/en-INT/corporate/skylife/article.aspx?mkl=74


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD8kachZe9o&mode=related&search=