Background
While Gezgin consisted mainly of songs in Turkish, Kan Zaman is fully performed in Arabic. The album celebrates the language and musical traditions of the Arab minority in southern Turkey and simultaneously tells the story of a family’s migration.
Roots and inspiration
The ensemble carries the name of its founder, Göksel Yılmaz. Born in the Netherlands, Göksel spent part of his youth in Antakya, the ancient city formerly known as Antioch, where his parents originate from. Located in an Arabic speaking region in southern Turkey, Antakya played a crucial role in shaping Göksel’s connection to Arabic language, culture and music. The album is inspired by the Arabic songs he heard during his childhood.
Repertoire and arrangement
For Kan Zaman, Göksel selected well known Arabic songs that were widely popular in Antakya and its surrounding areas during the 1970s and 1980s. These songs have remained timeless and are still sung collectively when performed today. One example is Maryam Maryamti, originally from Antakya, which later gained popularity throughout Turkey.
All songs are arranged by Göksel himself. In reworking the material, he consciously stayed close to the original compositions in order to preserve the intentions of the original composers. The result is music that is pure and honest, free from excessive harmonization, while subtle modern elements make it accessible to listeners of all ages.
Personal narrative
Another important source of inspiration was an old cassette tape Göksel found in his father’s archive. In the foreword of the album, Göksel explains that in the past, people did not write letters to family members abroad but sent cassette recordings instead. On these tapes, daily life was described and songs were sung. On one such tape, Göksel discovered voices of nearly all his family members singing in Arabic. Two fragments from this cassette were used on the album. The voice of his aunt appears on track four and the voice of his grandfather on track six. These recordings became the main reason for creating this album.
Ensemble and diversity
The album fits seamlessly within the broader musical repertoire of the ensemble, which expresses the cultural diversity of Anatolia through Turkish, Arabic and Kurdish songs. This diversity is reinforced by the multi-ethnic backgrounds of the five musicians. The lead singers are Göksel Yılmaz, who also plays ud, saz and guitar, and his sister Funda Yılmaz. They are accompanied by Sandor Kem on double bass, Anne Bakker on violin, and Ulaş Aksünger on percussion.
Significance
Kan Zaman is a unique musical compilation that revives the language and songs of the Arab minority in southern Turkey while shedding light on a family history shaped by migration. This unprecedented work fills an important gap within the Arabic music landscape in Turkey and gives recognition to the ethnic richness of Anatolia.