Tons of Turkish Tango

Tango arrived in Turkey soon after the nation was formed in 1924. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk at his first reception had three couples including himself dancing tango. The first Turkish Tango, Mazi (The Past), was composed by Necip Celal Andel in 1928, and recorded in 1932. The singer was Seyyan Hanim Oskay. Since then an amazing amount of tango has been produced in Turkey. Tango orchestras and singers include Fehmi Ege, Mustafa Sükrü, Kadri Cerrahoglu, Necdet Koyuturk, Celal Ince, Secaattin Tanyerli, Birsen Alsan, Ibrahim Ozgur, Mefharet Atalay, Birsen Hanim, Afife Hanim, Saime Sengul, Nezahat Onaner, Zehra Eren, and Orhan Avsar (first local bandoneonist).

So two weeks in Istanbull scouring all music stores in town and bugging Milonga DJ to give me leads has produced results. Here is the collection I picked up (Album, Artist). If you know how I can get my hands on additional Turkish please drop me a note. Needless to say one of my "World Tango Music" radio show in 2009 will be devoted Turkish Tango.

1. Tangolarimiz, Gecmisten Gunumuze
2. Ustad'a Saygiyla Tango, Erol Buyukburc & Erdener Koyuturk
3. Ustad'a Saygiyla Tango -2, Esin Engin & Erdener Koyuturk
4. Tangolar, Esin Engin
5. Olmeyen Tangolar, Secaattin Tanyerli
6. Dunden Bugune Tango, Erdener Koyuturk
7. Desde de Alma Tango, Cem Duruoz
8. Unutulmayan Turk Tangolari, Celal Ince
9. Viva la Tango, Edvard Aris
10. Dance with Me I & II, SeitkaliyeV with St Petrsburg Lyric Ensemble
11. Sontango, Esin Engin
12. Ibrahim Ozgur, Tangolar

And for those seeking to Dance in Istanbul, here is a list of Milongas

Monday:
European side: Armada Otel: Eminonu Cankurtaran'da sahil tarafi. (21:30 – 01:30)

Tuesday:
European side: Café La Cumparsita: Ortaklar cad. 40/1 Mecidiyekoy

Wednesday:
European side: Tiyatrocafe: Mistik Pasaji BKM alt kati (21:00-01:30)

Asian side: Otantik Cafe: Marmara Uni. Haydarpasa Kampusu Selimiye Mah. Burhan Felek Cad. Uskudar (21:30 – 01:30).

Friday:
European side: Levent Tenis Kulubu: near Migros Supermarket in 4th Levent (22:00-03:00)

Asian side: Dalyan Club: Atlıhan Sk. No: 3-5 Fenerbahçe (21:00-...)

Saturday:
European side: Rock House Milonga: Hotel Princess Ortakoy, Rock House Cafe Bar (21:30-03:00)
Dereboyu Street. No:10, Ortakoy, Ä°stanbul, 80840, Turkey, 0212 227 6010
ortakoyprincess.com

Sunday:
European side: Practica: Istiklal Cd.Mis Sk. No:8 Serif Han Kat:4 Dansevi Beyoglu (16:00-…)

Asian side: Practica at FIMA: Caferaga mah.Neset Omer sk No: 9 Kadikoy-Istanbul (15:00-19:00)
Tangoneon: Nisanci Sok. No:8E Kiziltoprak, Kadikoy (17:00-20:00)
Denizati: Rihtim Cd. Kadikoy Tarihi Vapur Iskelesinin ustu (21:00-…)

Everyday: Tangojean Club: Istiklal Caddesi, Suslu Saksi Sokagi, 14 Beyoglu, Istanbul