Necip Celal Antel (1908-1957)

"Then, I was a student at his 18-19. I met a German girl in Casino Taksim, and fell in love. She was the girl of a manufacturer who forced her to marry with a man she did not know.

She escaped to Istanbul. We were in our 15th day of our date. We had met again. Her silky, yellow hair was on my knees, and her dark blue eyes were gazing at me. She said "Necip, I am scared of not seeing you again", and I said "Nonsense !" We had the next date after 3 days. She did not come.

I run like a mad to her place. Her father had picked her back. Lately, I went back to Bosphorus. Yellow spots from moonlight over the hills were flickering on the green waves. Spots became larger, and the dream of my love appeared.

I was crying. Following the echoes of the melody in my brain, I sat down at my piano and composed my first Tango, Mazi"

Composer and violinist. He received special training because of the serious problem with his eyes, and soon he was disabled.

His first trainer is Tahir Sevenay. While he was in Germany for the medical treatment, he was the student of Professor Habermann in violin, and composition. His first two compositions are foxtrots; "Sari Yapincak (A kind of white grape)", and "Daktilo (Typewriter)", all written by Necdet Rustu Efe.

He composed the first Turkish Tango "Mazi (The Past)" in 1928. He composed 11 Tangos, concertos for violin, Lieds, Fenerbahce March, and Yalova upon the request from Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Without his eyes, but with his soul, he loved Istanbul; "Colors every night in Bosphorus / Falls down to the see, silently".

After the German movie star Evelin Hold sang Mazi in Cinema Hale in Kadikoy, he composed his tango "Ozleyis (Longing)" and dedicated it to her. His tangos including "Ozleyis" were broadcasted by various European radio stations. Except the latest 3 tangos, all of his compositions was sung by Seyyan Hanim for recording.

His other tangos are Ayrilik (Separation), Suna, Kimse Sevgimi Bilmez (Nobody Knows My Love), Yillar (Years), Gunler (Days), Bir An Icin (For a Moment). Non-recorded remains are Benim Sarkim (My Song), Damla Damla (Drop by Drop), and Gecmis Zaman (Past Time)

He died in 29.Dec.1957, while he was under medical treatment to beat cancer.

Click here to listen one his compositions MAZI

Fehmi Ege (1902-1978)

Violinist, conductor, and composer. He played an active role to settle the European music in Turkey. When he was 9 years old, he started his professional life by working at Sehzadebasi Ferah Theatre. He is the student of M.Leon, and violinist Goldenberg. He was pianist at cinemas during the silent movie times. He worked in Ismail Hakki Bey and Ali Rifat Bey Turkish Music orchestras.

His first compositions were in alaturca style. He composed an operetta "Mechul (Unknown)" where a tango was also included. Unfortunately, we do not have either the recording or the notes of this tango.

He was the chief violinist and conductor in Benliyan Efendi Operetta Orchestra. He has been honored by the appreciation from Ataturk, and appointed as the vice chief of the Presidency Orchestra.

He has recorded with Ankara and Istanbul Radio Orchestras. He composed more than 1000 songs. These include foxtrot, Rumba, Canto, Orchestra music, and an operetta for children.

He has composed around 300 Tangos with Turkish text.

Some of his always-remembered songs are "Sana Nerden Gonul Verdim (How did I love you)", "Ayrilik (Separation)", "En Son hatiran "Your latest memory)", "Ne Kadar Sevmisti Bu Gonul Seni (How much had my heart loved you)", "Mehtapli Bir Gecede (On a night under moonlight)", "Emelim (My desire)", "Kirpiklerin (Your Eyelashes)", "Cok Agladim (I cried too much)"

He has died on October, 5th 1978.

Click to listen his composition KISKANIYORUM

Muhlis Sabahattin Bey

Muhlis Sabahattin Bey has composed lots of operettas, and soundtracks between 1916 and 1940. He is known as the "King of the Turk Operetta"

He has composed alaturca style masterpieces such as, "Ayse (a private name for the girls)", and "Caresaz (Remedier)". In his operettas "Asaletmaab (nobility, this word was being used for the ambassadors)", and Mon Bey, Muhlis Sabahattin Bey took the European life style as the theme.

He always expressed the themes easily by staging the popular dances of the day. Dances like, Tango, Waltz, Waltz Boston, Charleston, and Foxtrot can always be found in his remains. They are all liked by the society and recorded onto the stone records.

Muhlis Sabahattin Bey is the composer of the first original Turk Tango which was composed between 1927 - 1928. The name of the song is Tango Turk, and it is instrumental. Being the leader of the Turkish Musicals, he also was the leader in writing the Turkish text for the dance music.

Many of the composer after him followed his leadership, and wrote Turkish text for the popular dances.

Necdet Koyuturk (1921-1988)

Akordeonist, conductor, arranger, and composer. Born on October 28, 1921in Ankara. He is the student of Demirhan Altug in Harmony. He become moreproductive after he worked with Cemal Resit Rey. His two sons, Erdener (1951),and Ozdener (1956) still carries his Tango works.

After 1938, he worked as composer, and his compositions were mainly on Tango. He merged the European forms with the Turkish music theme. He used the original Turkish music harmony, and joined them with the modernmusic and orchestra structures.

He composed his mostly loved Tango "Papatya (Daisy)" during his militaryservice in 1943. The records of this song have been published in Turkey, and England in 1948. This was the first Turkish Composition published inabroad.

He started, with his orchestra, the radio programs in Istanbul Radio after 1949. Since then he was known internationally. In 1957, he played for Marshal Tito, and King of Iraq, Faisal. His radio program lasted 30 years.

His main remains are "Dinle Sevgili (Listen Darling)", "Ruzgar Gibi Gecti (Gone Like the Wind)", "Suphe (Suspect)", "Yillar Var ki (Since Years..)", "Yildizlar Duserken (While the Stars Fall)", "Seven Bilir (Lovers Know)", "Unutmak Istiyorum ( I Want to Forget)", "Basbasa Kalinca (When We Are Alone)".

His compositions were sung by some foreign singers, such as Lili Ivanovaof Bulgaria, and Yaffa Yarkoni from Israel. Necdet Koyuturk has died in 19.October.1988 in Istanbul.

Click here to listen his composition PAPATYA

Kadri Cerrahoglu

"I was composing an operette in which
a drunken man sings a song. All of a
sudden I said to myself "Why not ? Why
not composing it as Tango ?" And I did.
Sarhosum, Sarhos... It is my first Tango."

Kadri Cerrahoglu was one of the non-professional Turkish Tango Composer.

He was a dentist.

His most popular compositions are "Emel (Desire)", "Simsiyah Bakislarin (Deep Black Looks)", Sarhosum Sarhos (I am Drunken Drunk)", "Leyla (A Turkish name for girls)", and "Anneme (To My mother)"

Anneme, is an unusual theme, and complains his lover to his mother. This song was recorded by Ibrahim Ozgur, who was the most famous man singer of the era, and accompanied by Park Hotel Orchestra. Park Hotel Orchestra was one of the few famous orchestras then.

Kadri Cerrahoglu died in 31.October.1983 when he was 80 years old. His daughter, who is the famous Turkish Soprano Suna Korad is honored as
State Artist. His son, Kerem Cerrahoglu has left his training in conservatoire, after he settled in Istanbul.

Listen his composition SARHOSUM, SARHOS