"Gözlerimden Yüzün, Kulaklarımdan Sesin Silinmedi Senelerdir" (Your face hasn't faded from my eyes, and your voice hasn't vanished from my ears) is a popular Turkish song composed by Muzaffer İlkar. The song is in the Hicaz makam (mode) and uses the Düyek Semai usul (rhythm).


Muzaffer İlkar was born in Istanbul in 1910. His interest in music was noticed by his music teacher during his primary school years. While attending Kadıköy İdadi school, he joined the Şark Musiki Society. He started to learn his first music knowledge from Leon Hancıyan, Bogos Efendi, and Dr Hamit Bey, and started to participate in fasıls due to the interest of their close family friend, Fulya Hanım. Later, İlkar was recognized by the Radio Administration after being successful in a competition held by a newspaper, and he began taking lessons from the instructors Kemani Raşit Erer, Mesut Cemil Bey, and Kanuni Vecihe Derya. In 1929, he began his career as a composer with his first work, the song "Bu Aşkın Namesiyle Coşmuştu Gönül" in the Nihavent makam. In 1938, he married Zeynep Dizen. In the same year, he came to Ankara with the opening of Ankara Radio. He was trained by meticulous masters such as Nuri Halil Poyraz, Refik Fersan, and Mesut Cemil. After advancing his knowledge of makam, style, and theory, he started attending the Ankara State Conservatory. He took lessons in every aspect of Western music from Cevat Memduh Atlar, Nurullah Şevket Taşkıran, Ulvi Cemal Erkin, and Saadet İkesustan for three years. In 1955, he was appointed as the Turkish Music Director of Ankara Radio. Muzaffer İlkar, who retired from the Turkish Music Directorate of Ankara Radio in 1975, is still one of the most played composers with his works that will never be forgotten in people's memories and hearts, even after years have passed. Sibel Egemen, a light Western music singer, is the composer's granddaughter. Muzaffer İlkar passed away on February 23, 1987, in Istanbul.

Turkish Lyrics

Gözlerimden yüzün, kulaklarımdan sesin silinmedi senelerdir.
Gönlümdeki sevgin, dudaklarımdan ismin silinmedi senelerdir.
Unutamam seni, geçen mutlu günleri, sevemedim kimseleri.
Gönlümdeki sevgin, dudaklarımdan ismin silinmedi senelerdir.

English Translation

For years, your face hasn't faded from my eyes, and your voice hasn't vanished from my ears.
The love in my heart, your name on my lips, for years they haven't been erased.
I cannot forget you, the happy days we had, I couldn't love anyone else.
The love in my heart, your name on my lips, for years they haven't been erased.

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