Bir Gönül Vardı Bende Henüz Aşkı Tatmamış - Ferit Sıdal - 20th Century Turkish Music

"Bir Gönül Vardı Bende Henüz Aşkı Tatmamış" (There was a heart within me that had yet to taste love) is a Turkish song composed by Ferit Sıdal with lyrics by Sedat Ergintuğ. It is performed in the Rast makam (mode) and follows the Düyek usul (rhythm).

Ferit Sıdal was born on March 1, 1925, in Ankara, Turkey. While attending Gazi High School, he developed an interest in the Tanbur, a traditional Turkish stringed instrument. He received Tanbur lessons from the renowned tambura virtuoso Tamburi Cemil Bey's student, Tevfik Bey. He continued his studies with another famous Tanbur player, İzzettin Ökte. He also worked on repertoire with Nurettin Cemil Bey and studied musical notation with Şerif İçli. In 1950, Sıdal joined Ankara Radio as a tambura artist. The same year, he married Müzeyyen Hanım. After 1956, he added choir conducting to his artistic pursuits and served as a conductor for various ensembles. In 1972, when the Music Department of TRT (Turkish Radio and Television Corporation) was established, Sıdal was appointed as the head of Turkish Classical Music. He held this position for 13 years. After retiring from TRT in 1990, he was honored with the title of State Artist in 1998. Even in his retirement, he continued to contribute to TRT in different capacities. Starting from 1951, Sıdal also began composing music and left his mark on more than a hundred compositions. Sadly, Ferit Sıdal passed away on August 9, 2001, leaving behind a significant legacy in Turkish music.

Turkish Lyrics

Bir gönül vardı bende henüz aşkı tatmamış.
Tertemiz hislerine günah nedir katmamış.
Arzu duymuş güzele kollarında yatmamış.
Tertemiz hislerine günah nedir katmamış.

English Translation

There was a heart within me that had yet to taste love.
Pure feelings untouched by sin.
It desired the beauty but never laid in her arms.
Pure feelings untouched by sin.