Hurriyet
01.09.2009
Artists against hatred, animosity
ISTANBUL – Arto Tunçboyacýyan, a famous musician and composer of
Armenian origin who lives in the United States, and Yaþar Kurt, who
learned of his Armenian origins after the age of 40, have produced an
album in Armenia giving messages ‘against hate, animosity’
Artists against hatred, animosityThe paths of two Anatolian musicians
crossed at Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. One is Arto Tunçboyacýyan,
world famous musician and composer from the United States, and the
other is Yaþar Kurt, one of Turkey’s most important musicians who
learned from his great-uncle that he was of Armenian origin at the age
of 40.
Kurt, who says it was a shock for him to learn the truth about his
identity, went to Armenia in 2007 upon the invitation of Tunçboyacýyan
to satisfy his curiosity about his culture, which he knew nothing
about. At that time, the assassination of Hrant Dink, editor in chief
for the Agos newspaper, occurred in Turkey. Having the sensitivity of
a musician, Tunçboyacýyan composed "Nefrete ve Kine Karþý" (Against
Hatred and Animosity) and decided to start a joint project with Kurt
as soon as they came together.
Tunçboyacýyan and Kurt have started recording with the Armenian Naval
Band, which Tunçboyacýyan had formed a decade ago with other Armenian
musicians, and completed an album that included the mentioned song.
Tunçboyacýyan sang in Armenian and Kurt in Turkish. The duo recorded
the album in a short period but met problems when they decided to
release the album in Turkey.
Although they were covering for all the expenses, record companies
were not into the idea of releasing "Nefret ve Kine Karþý," according
to Kurt. The duo did not give up hope and finally signed a contract
with Arma Müzik. The album, which raises a voice against hatred and
animosity in two languages, will be released in the coming days.
Kurt spoke to the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review and expressed
his feelings. "Big pains were experienced in the past. Those pains
influenced my life. I learned about my Armenian roots when I was
40. If we honestly want to reach the truth, as Turks and Armenians, we
must eliminate hatred and animosity."
Confession of a great-uncle
"We are from Rize, actually. My family always had considerable
differences in their ways and traditions. Since my childhood I have
found myself asking my family, ‘Who are we?’" Kurt
said. "Unfortunately, my questions remained unanswered."
Kurt said he was a fan of Tunçboyacýyan before they met in
< gt; Istanbul. "Arto’s accent
was so similar to my father’s. At first we joked about maybe being
relatives but then the jokes increased my curiosity about my identity
once again."
Meanwhile, Kurt visited his great-uncle, who was in his 90s, and
finally found answers about his identity, learning that his family was
of Armenian origin.
His great-uncle summarized the matter with these words: "Actually our
roots are from Van but during the events experienced back then our
family were forced to migrate to the Black Sea. Some died on the
way. Only our great-great grandfather could have managed to survive
and he founded the family. But he had always lived by hiding his
identity."
Although he received the answers he was looking for at the age of 40,
the answers rocked Kurt at the core: "Identity and belonging are about
knowing yourself; I have been kept away from that awareness."
Kurt said and described his meeting with Tunçboyacýyan as a great deal
of luck. Kurt indicated the extreme importance of them completing such
a big project in Armenia. "Neither of us were born in Armenia, our
roots are Anatolian but we have done this from Armenia. Making this
call from Armenia is as important as making it from Turkey."
Meaning of the rose on the album cover
Tunçboyacýyan and Kurt designed an interesting cover for the album,
featuring a rose on it. "This rose represents the flower of peace the
two nations should be offering to each other," said Kurt, concluding
by expressing his opinions on President Abdullah Gül’s visit to
Armenia in September. "I thank Mr. Gül very much on that matter. This
step was extremely necessary for ending the hatred and animosity and
for the future of both nations."
h/lifestyle/10734147.asp?scr=3D1
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
