Âşık Veysel Şatıroğlu

Âşık Veysel Şatıroğlu, usually only Aşık Veysel real name Veysel Şatıroğlu ( born October 25, 1894 in the village Sivrialan Şarkışla, † March 21, 1973 ibid ) was one of the most famous and influential Turkish baglama player, singer and poet of the Anatolian space.

Life

His father was a farmer named Ahmet Şatıroğlu. Veysel lost his eyesight in the right eye at the age of seven years by smallpox that were rampant at that time in Sivas. His two older sisters died of the disease. The left eye he later lost due to an accident caused by his father with an ox goad. At the age of ten his father bought a consolation a long-necked lute ( baglama ).

He was married by his parents with a distant relative named Esma, who bore him a son and a daughter. His son died shortly after birth, a little later, his mother and his father. After his brother returned home from the war even started a family and had a daughter, the two brothers decided to bring a servant in the house.

His wife Esma left Veysel with this servant, as he lay sick in bed and his brother was traveling to work. At this time his daughter was six months old. At the age of two and a half years, she died.

Through the Turkish name law he chose the surname Şatıroğlu. In 1933, he impressed the nationwide Aşık Festival President Atatürk. In the following years Aşık Veysel moved in the tradition of Anatolian Aşık singer from village to village, and so traveled almost the whole of Turkey. Atatürk had asked him to visit the newly established by the State Folk Houses ( Halkevleri ) and to teach there. He worked for a while as saz teacher in a village institution that served the school teacher training.

1965 was specifically awarded to him because of his " contributions to language and national unity " by law a monthly pension. 1973 died Aşık Veysel at the age of 78 years in his birthplace in Sivrialan. Today his house is a museum.

Works (selection)

• Uzun ince bir yoldayım
• Beni hor görme gardaşım
• Güzelliğin on para etmez
• Sazım
• Dostlar beni hatırlasın
• Ben gidersem sazım sen kal dünyada
• Mecnunum Leylamı gördüm
• Karşıkı Karli Dagda bülbül
• Kızılırmak seni seni
• Ömrüm ömrüm
• Yüce dağ başında
• Yine dertli dertli
• Dilber
• Çiçekler
• Haci Bektas
• Sivas elle bark sazım çalınır
• Kara toprak
• Derdimi dökersem derin dereye
• Sen varsın orda