Marche Vatan (Vatan Marşı) - 20th Century Turkish Military Music
"Marche Vatan" or "Vatan Marşı" (Homeland March) is a Turkish military music composition by İsmail Hakkı Bey, also known as Muallim (teacher).
İsmail Hakkı Bey, also known as İsmail Hakkı Aksoy and with the title Muallim (teacher), (b. 1865, Istanbul - d. December 30, 1927, Istanbul) was a Turkish composer and music educator. İsmail Hakkı Bey was born in 1865 in the Balat district of Istanbul, as the son of Reşid Efendi, an official of the "İdare-i Hususiye" (Special Administration). After completing elementary school, İsmail Hakkı started working as an apprentice in a weaving workshop. His recitation of the call to prayer in the mosques near his neighbourhood and workplace drew the attention of a palace muezzin. With the help of this person, İsmail Hakkı entered Muzikayı Hümayun at a young age and received music lessons from Suyolcuzade Latif Ağa and the orchestra conductor Zati Bey. Between 1902 and 1905, while teaching music at Darülirfan School on Belediye Street in Kadıköy, he also served as the chief cashier at the Ministry of Finance. After the Second Constitutional Era, he was among the founders of the Ottoman Music Society (Dârülmûsikî-i Osmanî). He became the second director of this society after Hafız Aşir Efendi. Due to differences of opinion, he parted ways with the Ottoman Music Society. In March 1909, he established the Ottoman Music Society on Fevziye Kıraathanesi in Şehzadebaşı. İsmail Hakkı Bey (1865-1927) is known for writing many of today's popular mehter marches, including "Ceddin Deden." He passed away on December 30, 1927, and was buried in the Eğrikapı Cemetery in Istanbul.
Turkish Lyrics
Çağırıyor askerliğe, aman vatan!
Asker olmak ne şereftir, ah ne şan!
Kurbanız biz vatanın her taşına.
Arkadaşlar, haydi silah başına.
English Translation
Oh! homeland is calling us for military service.
To be a soldier, what an honor, what glory!
We sacrifice ourselves to every stone of our homeland.
Friends, come on, to arms.