| İstiklâl Marşı English: Independence March | |
|---|---|
Schoolroom wall with the lyrics of İstiklâl Marşı (far right). English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States | |
| National Anthem of | |
| Lyrics | Mehmet Akif Ersoy |
| Music | Osman Zeki Üngör |
| Adopted | 1921 |
The İstiklâl Marşı (Independence March) is the Turkish National Anthem, officially adopted on March 12, 1921 - two years before the October 29, 1923 establishment of the modern day Republic of Turkey, both as a motivational musical saga for the troops fighting on the Turkish War of Independence, and as a heroic anthem for the Republic that was to be established once victory was achieved. Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus ( TRNC) (Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti KKTC) commonly called Northern Cyprus (Kuzey Kıbrıs though its Mehmet Akif Ersoy (1873 Istanbul - December 27, 1936, Istanbul was a Turkish poet author academic member of parliament and the poet of Osman Zeki Üngör (1880 – 1958 was a Turkish composer violin virtuoso and lyricist who served as the first conductor of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra of Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's Events 538 - Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar Events 437 - Valentinian III, Western Roman Emperor, marries Licinia Eudoxia, daughter of his cousin Theodosius II Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches The Turkish War of Independence (Kurtuluş Savaşı May 19, 1919 October 29, 1923) refers to the political and military resistance developed The composition has also been adopted as the National Anthem of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus ( TRNC) (Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti KKTC) commonly called Northern Cyprus (Kuzey Kıbrıs though its
A total of 724 poems were submitted to a nation-wide competition organized to find and select the most suitable original composition for this National March, and a 10-verse poem written by the renowned poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy was adopted unanimously by the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Mehmet Akif Ersoy (1873 Istanbul - December 27, 1936, Istanbul was a Turkish poet author academic member of parliament and the poet of The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi - TBMM, usually referred to simply as Meclis - "the Parliament" is the Unicameral
Twenty-four composers participated in another competition arranged for the selection of a musical composition that would suit the elected National Anthem best. The Council, which was only able to convene in 1924 due to the Turkish War of Independence, adopted the music composed by Ali Rıfat Çağatay. Year 1924 ( MCMXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Turkish War of Independence (Kurtuluş Savaşı May 19, 1919 October 29, 1923) refers to the political and military resistance developed The words of the National Anthem were sung to this music until 1930. Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Thereafter, the music was changed to a symphonic arrangement written by Osman Zeki Üngör, conductor of the Presidential Symphonic Orchestra, with a new harmonization supplied by Edgar Manas, a composer of Armenian ethnicity. Osman Zeki Üngör (1880 – 1958 was a Turkish composer violin virtuoso and lyricist who served as the first conductor of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra of Yet, the original words have been sung to this musical accompaniment ever since. It should be noted, however, that only the first two stanzas of the ten-verse anthem are sung.
Also Turkish National Anthem should be sang standing and immobile.
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Explanations:
1: There is a literary element being employed here that may not be immediately noticeable. The Turkish flag is comprised of a white crescent and star superimposed on a crimson background. The flag of Turkey consists of a white crescent moon and a Star on a Red background The poet is creating an imagery of a crescent and comparing it to the frowning eyebrows of a sulky face. To be specific, the flag (under threat from invading nations against whom victory seems initially impossibly difficult to achieve, hence "coy") is being treated as a coy maiden with a sulky face (resentment of the invasion) who is playing hard-to-get. That is, the "coy" flag is being "playful" about letting the troops achieve ultimate victory.
2: A literal translation of this word would be "the infinites" - a Turkish poetical word (with no direct English translation) that refers to everything that is perceived infinite by Man: the heavens, the oceans, the Earth, the horizon, etc.
3: Again, some explanation is required. What is being referred to as "civilization" is the invading European nations (France, Britain, Italy and Greece, to be specific) and their modern armies, which were superior equipment and manpower-wise to the war-stricken, dilapidated, undermanned, and underfed national forces that were hastily assembled by nationalist civilians and ex-military officials following World War I, the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the humiliating and harsh conditions set forth following the Treaty of Sèvres. The Treaty of Sèvres ( 10 August 1920) was the Peace treaty between the Ottoman Empire and Allies at the end of World War The poet is, however, calling out to the Nation, and saying that while "the lands of the West may be armed with walls of steel", i. e. "while these European armies may have seemingly impenetrable/unbeatable modern technology and weaponry, do not be fooled/discouraged by their apparent superiority. Look at what we have accomplished in our War of Independence so far with virtually non-existent arms and supplies! We are horribly fatigued, underfed, undermanned, and at a disadvantage in every conceivable way, and yet we still are able to succeed in battle! Our motivation, belief, and internal drive is what has and will continue to carry us through, and that is something that those other armies do not remotely possess. The Turkish War of Independence (Kurtuluş Savaşı May 19, 1919 October 29, 1923) refers to the political and military resistance developed So what if they possess better armed forces? We have the 'mighty chest of a believer', which is all we need for ultimate victory.
4: The act of laying one's forehead on the ground as part of Muslim sacred ritual. See Namaz or Salah. Ṣalāt ( Arabic: صلاة, pl ṣalawāt, Qur'anic Arabic: صلوة ṣalawah) (also munz in Pashto and Ṣalāt ( Arabic: صلاة, pl ṣalawāt, Qur'anic Arabic: صلوة ṣalawah) (also munz in Pashto and The image being painted here is that of a battle-fallen and pain-stricken man, who becomes ecstatic following the victorious end of the War of Independence. The Turkish War of Independence (Kurtuluş Savaşı May 19, 1919 October 29, 1923) refers to the political and military resistance developed This is a man whose mind, body and soul have at long last found peace, and may finally ascend and reach the heavens, knowing that his homeland is finally safe and sound and that all his suffering was all worth it in the end.