Burçak Tarlası (literally "

Vetch ''Vicia'' is a genus of over 240 species of flowering plants that are part of the legume family (Fabaceae), and which are commonly known as vetches. Member species are native to Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Africa. Some other g ...

Field") is the arranged form of a Turkish folkloric tune (

türkü Turkish folk music () is the traditional music of Turkish people living in Turkey influenced by the cultures of Anatolia and former territories in Europe and Asia. Its unique structure includes regional differences under one umbrella. It includ ...

) and it is one of the pioneers in Turkish pop music. There are similar folkloric dance tunes known as "Ka mi ispadnala moma Katerina" in

North Macedonia North Macedonia, officially the Republic of North Macedonia, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe. It shares land borders with Greece to the south, Albania to the west, Bulgaria to the east, Kosovo to the northwest and Serbia to the n ...

, and "Στην Αγιά Μαρκέλλα" in

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

. However, "Burçak Tarlası" is based on a tragic real-life story.

Original form

The original form of the türkü was popular in Central Anatolia . It was probably composed by a folk poet known as Kör Şakir (Şakir the Blind) in 1931. According to unconfirmed stories, the lyrics refer to Meryem Sayar a newly wed woman who complains from her mother in law. Her mother in law who was the wife of a late

muhtar Muhtar also spelled "Mihtar" or "Mitar" is a given name and a surname. Notable persons with that name include: Persons with the given name * Muhtar Kent (born 1952), Turkish American businessman * Ahmet Muhtar Merter (died 1959), Turkish freedom ...

of Zengen village (

Konya Province Konya Province () is a province and metropolitan municipality in southwest Central Anatolia, Turkey. Its area is 40,838 km2, making it the largest province by area, and its population is 2,296,347 (2022). The provincial capital is the city ...

) wakes her up very early in the mornings and forces her to work hard in the vetch fields. In one couplet she complaints: :''Aman da kızlar ne zor imiş burçak yolması'' :''Burçak tarlasında yar yar gelin olması''. : Oh Girls how hard it is to tear up vetch, :(And) to be a bride in a vetch field.

Arranged form

In 1964, this song was arranged to be played in modern instruments.

Tülay German Tülay German (born 27 January 1935), also known as Toulaï, is a Turkish people, Turkish singer, currently living in France. She is known for her modern interpretations of Turkish folk music. Early years Tülay German was born in Istanbul in 19 ...

, hitherto a jass singer accompanied by the Donuk Onatkut orchestra played the melody. The result was a big success. Burçak Tarlası was not only a hit. According to one view by this melody, the first seeds of

Anatolian rock Anatolian rock (), or Turkish psychedelic rock, is a fusion of Turkish folk music and rock. It emerged during the mid-1960s, soon after rock groups became popular in Turkey. The most widely known members of this genre include Turkish musicians ...

had been disseminated.

Record

Tülay German released "Burçak Tarlası" as a 45 rpm (on Ezgi Records).Discog page
/ref> The reverse side of the record she sang another arranged türkü: "Mecnunum Leylamı Gördüm".

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burcak Tarlasi (song) Turkish folk songs 1964 singles 1931 songs

Original form

Arranged form

Record

See also

References