Algunas canciones típicas turcas / About some Turkish lyrics

La música es el lenguaje más internacional que existe. Por eso no podía faltar en nuestro blog. Buscad las novedades en la caja de descargas que hemos creado para ir poniendo canciones. A través de la música reconocemos nuestras señas de identidad y nuestras raíces. Conozcamos un poco más la música turca, a través de las canciones favoritas de Atatürk: sari zeybek, vardar ovasi y canakkale.

Sobre Canakkale

Gullü, la profesora turca de inglés, principal responsable de nuestro proyecto en su instituto, nos explica que Canakkale, que es el título de la canción, es el nombre de una ciudad turca y nos aporta numerosos datos sobre la situación geográfica y la historia de aquel territorio. Podríamos destacar lo siguiente:
En ella se libró parte de la guerra de la independencia. Canakkale está situada en la parte noroeste de Turquía, en una zona estratégica para el ejército, el comercio y las migraciones a través de la historia. El estrecho de Dardanelos es la característica geográfica más importante de Canakkale: una franja de agua de unos 60 km. que separa Europa de Asia Menor. Durante siglos, quien dirigía las compuertas tenía la hegemonía de una zona importantísima. Por tanto hay muchas historias sobre esto.
Parece ser que la leyenda más antigua que se ubica en esa zona es la de Helle. Antiguamente los Dardanelos se conocían como Hellespont “El mar de Helle”. Helle, según la mitología griega era una princesa que se ahogó en sus aguas. Cuando Phryxus y Helle, hijos del rey Athamas, fueron expulsados por su madrastra, la princesa Helle se cayó al agua intentando cruzar el estrecho.
Otra historia que se cuenta es que Canakkale estaba en la antigüedad formada por dos ciudades, Abydos y Sestus, una frente a otra a cada lado del estrecho. Ocurrió que Leandro, un guapo joven de Abydos estaba enamorado de Hero, una sacerdotisa Afrodita que era de Sestus, por lo que él cada noche lo cruzaba a nado para verla. Una noche hubo una terrible tormenta y nunca llegó a la otra orilla. Entonces, Hero, asumiendo que Leandro se había ahogado, se tiró al mar.
Los Dardanellos jugaron un papel muy importante en la 1ª Guerra Mundial. Los Ingleses y sus aliados querían tomar Estambul pero no pudieron atravesar los Dardanelos. Hubo una contienda de ocho meses entre los aliados y las fuerzas turcas conocida como la Batalla de Gallípoli. Tantas víctimas hubo que Winston Churchill, el Primer Ministro inglés, fue destituido.
Ahora, cada 25 de abril, Gallípoli se llena de los descendientes de las tropas aliadas, de otros veteranos y de turistas. Se lanzan salvas de fuego desde la Cueva Anzac y la Guardia de Honor turca saluda a los héroes. En la actualidad, la península de Gallípoli es un parque nacional abierto al público que quiere rendir homenaje a las víctimas en los varios cementerios militares que hay. Gallípoli es por tanto un documento vivo y postrero de la barbarie de la guerra.
En referencia a la canción Canakkale sabemos que corresponde al canto de un soldado de aquella época que entró al ejército casi niño porque necesitaban más efectivos. La letra dice que se siente demasiado pequeño para ser soldado e ir a la guerrra, como la mayoría de ellos, y que había demasiado humo en la ciudad, provocado por los estallidos de las explosiones. Habla de que pertenecía a la trinchera número trece y de que los cañones estaban situados en Canakkale. Cuenta que iban muriendo unos tras otros mientras sus padres esperaban inútilmente su regreso.
Las palabras de Atatürk, el famoso comandante de Gallípoli y fundador de la actual república turca, alaban el valor de estos soldados y aparecen transcritas en inglés en el texto que nos envían nuestros amigos turcos junto a otro párrafo, también sobre la tragedia. Podéis leerlo en la versión inglesa.

Çanakkale is the name of a city in Turkey. And durıng the independence war there had been the worst defence in our hıstory. And thıs song had been sung one of the soldıers at that tıme. He had gone to the military servıce at a very early age.Because there had been no adults ın those years because of the nonstopıng wars. He says:' I'm goıng agaınst the enemies to hıs mother, o my god I am too small. Some of the us are engaged some are marrıed.(ın those days people are gettıng marrıed at an early age 13-14-15....)there ıs smoke over the cıty and the 13th trench went to the war. The cannons were placed ın Çanakkale, our uşaks were kılled there and all the parents were hopeless of theır chıld's return.'
The first-waterway on the way of Istanbul, the place where a century was collapsed, the place where 500,000 soldiers lost their lives at Gallipoli, homeland of many civizilations including the ancient city known as Troy, the city of Heroes:
Çanakkale, one of the Turkish cities, located on the Hellespoint at the north-west part of Turkiye.The city has always been strategically important because it has been a crossing point for armies, traders, migrating people since before history.
BRIEF SUMMARY
The Dardanelles Strait is one of the most important geological feature of Çanakkale. This is the almost 60 km (38 miles) long ribbon of water separating the continent of Europe from the Asia Minor. Throughout history, anyone who controlled this gateway commanded a highly strategic area. There are many stories told about this place.
The first known story of the Dardanelles is the story of Helle. In the ancient times, the Dardanelles were known as the Hellespont, "Helle's sea" , named after a mythical Boetian princess who was drown in its waters. According to Greek mythology, when King Athamas' children, Phryxus and Helle, were sent away by their stepmother. While passing over the straits on a ram with golden fleece, Princess Helle fell into the water.
Another lovey story is told ear to ear; Abydose and Sestus were two town of ancient Çanakkale that faced one another across the Straits. Leander was a handsome youth from Abydos who was in love with an Aphrodite priestess, Hero. Every night he would swim from Abydos to Sestus to see her. One night there was a terrible storm and he had never arrived. Hero, asuming that Leander had drowned, threw herself into the sea.
Dardanelles played an important role at World War I. British and its Allies, who wanted to take Istanbul, could not pass through the Dardanelles. The eight month-long struggle between the Allies and Turkish forces is known as the Battle of Gallipoli. So serious were the casualties on both sides, that Winston CHURCHILL, Prime Minister of England, was removed from his office.

Every year of April 25th, Gallipoli is invaded again not by Allied troops, but by their descendants, other veterans, and tourists. The sounds of the riffle fire ring out at Anzac Cove, but this time as a salute to hereos by the Turkish Honor Guard.
When you reach Galliboli Pennisula you can feel the spirit of the heroes of the battle. Today Galliboli pennisula is a national park and is open to all visitors who come to pay respect in many military burial grounds. Blow are the words of Ataturk, the famous Turkish commander of Gallipoli and the founders of modern Turkish Republic.
" Those heroes that shed their blood and
lost their lives...! You are now lying in
the soul of a friendly country, therefore
rest in peace. There is no differences between
the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they
lie side by side here in this country of ours...

You, the mothers who sent their sons from far away
countries wipe away your tears. Your sons are now
lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having
lost their lives on this land they have become
our sons as well."

ATATURK, (1934).

These pages were prepared in rememberance of many unknown heroes who lost their lives for this land. Our duty is to carryforth this story of honor to future generations. We, our people, and all the world will never forgot their epics. Galliboli, with its air, forests, and soil, is a living monument.
[Photo from Kagan Agun's archive, August 1996.]The heroes, buried in this land and mixed with soil, are watching the setting of the Sun on the water.
Here are some words illustrate the magnificence of the Gallipoli Wars.
It is impossible for me without mentioning the fights on the Bomb Hill. Distance between trenches is about eight metres, That's to say, death is certain... The soldiers in the first trench are completely dying and the second group replaces them immediately with such great resignation and coldness that noone can imagine. A Soldier sees those dying soldiers and knows that he will die in a few minutes but doesn't show any hesitation and fear at all. By reading Kuran, some are ready to go Heaven and others are fighting and praying to God. This is one of the instances that shows the astonishing high spirit of Turkish soldiers. This is the high spirit that won Canakkale Wars. ( From the diaries of Ataturk - group commander of Anafartalar)