Timur Selçuk


Timur Selçuk was a Turkish composer, pianist, singer and conductor.

Biography

One of the greatest Turkish composers, Timur Selçuk was the son of Turkish neo-classical music composer Münir Nurettin Selçuk and actress Şehime Erton. His great-uncle was the Ottoman [Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire|Ottoman Empire|Grand Vizier] Abdurrahman Nurettin Pasha. His younger brother is jazz drummer and composer Selim Selçuk. His older sister was Meral Selçuk who sang with her father in his concerts. Timur Selçuk started playing piano at the age of 5 and gave his first concert at age 7. He completed his high school education at Galatasaray High School and at Istanbul Municipal Conservatory.
Selçuk returned to Turkey after completing his study at the École Normale de Musique de Paris where he majored in composition and conducting. He became a pioneer of political songs in Turkey. With his chansons, he repeatedly stormed the hit lists. He was the founder and the conductor of the Istanbul Chamber Orchestra where he arranged compositions of Turkish and Ottoman composers including Sultan Selim the III, Hacı Arif Bey, Dilhayat Kalfa. He composed a great number of music to film, theater, ballet and opera. Selçuk composed and recorded songs to some of the finest poems in Turkish literature including poetry of Ümit Yaşar Oğuzcan, Orhan Veli Kanık, Faruk Nafiz Çamlıbel and to the poems of poet Nâzım Hikmet. He studied voice for many years with the great opera singer Saadet İkesus Altan. His vocal expression was dynamic ranging from naive, to lyrical, to dramatic and theatrical. Selçuk was known for his humor and temperament on stage as well as with his courageous comments on politics.
He twice participated in the Eurovision Song Contest; in 1975, he conducted the first ever Turkish entry, "Seninle Bir Dakika", that had been composed and arranged by others. 14 years later, in 1989, he returned as composer, lyricist, arranger and conductor for "Bana Bana", that was performed by the group Pan. One of the singers of the group was his daughter Hazal Selçuk. The song finished 21st.
Timur Selçuk taught voice, music theory and piano for 40 years at his school Center for Contemporary Music located in Istanbul. In his teachings he combined western music theory with the complex theory of classical Turkish music.

Death

Timur Selçuk died in his sleep on 6 November 2020, in his daughter Mercan Selçuk's house. He was buried at Zincirlikuyu Cemetery the following day.

Discography

Albums

Timur Selçuk ve Orkestrası, Yonce Plak, 1974İspanyol Meyhanesi, Philips Plak, 1974Timur Selçuk, Yankı Plak, 1977Tak Tik, Maral Plak, 1979İstanbul Oda Orkestrası eşliğinde; Timur Selçuk, Maral Plak, 1979Dünden Bugüne, Balet Plak, 1982Timur Selçuk – 3, Balet Plak, 1986Bir Uzay Masalı – Pop Opera, Balet Plak, 199125. Yıl, Balet Plak, 1992Seçkiler, Ada Müzik, 2000Abdülhamit Düşerken, Balet Plak, 2004Babamın Şarkıları, Balet Plak, 2004Bedreddin, Balet Plak, 2005

45 records

Ayrılanlar İçin – On Dit, Barclay Plak, 1964İnme – Çoban Çeşmesi, Balet Plak, 1969Derbeder Ömrüm – Köylü Kızı, Philips Plak, 1970Böyledir Akşamları İstanbul'un – Rıhtımda, Philips Plak, 1970Viens Regarder Le Soleil, Philips Plak, 1971Bugün Yarın Daima – Kadın Kadın, Philips Plak, 1972Yaşayamam Sensiz – Sevmek Delilik, Philips Plak, 1972 – 1974İspanyol Meyhanesi – Beyaz Güvercin, Philips Plak, 1972Duyar mısın? – Kara Sevda, Grafson Plak, 1972Sıla Güneşi – Ben Gamlı Hazan Sense Taze Bahar, Yonca Plak, 1972Kırık Kalpler – Oy Be Nenem, Yonca Plak, 1973Panayır Günü – Yaralı Ceylan, Yonca Plak, 1973Sen Nerdesin – Tu Seras Un Concerto, Barclay Plak, 1974Hürriyete Doğru – Karantinalı Despina, Grafson Plak, 1974Pireli Şarkı – Memet, Yonca Plak, 1975Dönek Türküsü – Özgürlük, Yankı Plak, 1978

Filmography

Eine Saison in Hakkari,, 1982/1983 directed by Erden KıralVatanyolu,, 1987/1988 by Enis Günay, Rasim KonyarMavi Sürgün,, 1992/1993 by Erden Kıral