Bilge Qaghan - Epic Turkic Music

Music based on Altai traditional music, vocals by Farya Faraji, lyrics by Giuseppe Régimbeau, closely modeled on the Orkhon inscriptions. The Epic Turkic Music is a project where the sounds of the current, living traditions of the Turkic peoples are used as a framing device to explore themes relating to the mythology, folklore and history of the Turkic peoples. These are not historical recreations nor "epic music" in the cinematic soundtrack sense, but a project of ethnomusicological research and performance that showcases the epic narrative repertoire of the Turkic people through their living musical traditions. This song is rooted in the Altai musical tradition as it exists today, and is based on this folk song performed wonderfully here: https://youtu.be/fx41ljUN3Xo?si=GgPD6cBXbGBflZbS Whilst the previous two Turkic releases showcased the recent synthesis of Altai music incorporating Western chord progressions, this one employs a more traditional monophonic approach with some degree of local harmonic accompaniment, with the melody momentarily switching to the second interval of the minor whilst simultaneously bringing and holding the drone onto its perfect fifth. Lyrics: Teŋride bolmış Kagan, Türük Bilge Kagan men. Bu ödke olurtum men, Tüketi eşidgil sen. Kaŋım Elteriş Kagan, Ögüm Elbilge Katun, Teŋri töpüde tutup Yügerü kötürmiş ol. İlgerü kün toğsıkka, Kurığaru batsıkka, Birigerü kün ortu, Yırığaru tün ortu, Süledim, bodun altım. Anta içreki bodun Kop maŋa körür erti, Bunça elig kazğantım. Ölteçi bodunuğ men Tirgürü igittim men, Yalaŋığ tonluğ kıltım, Çığañığ bay kıltım men, Azığ üküş kıltım men, Elig törüg tuttum men. Kül Tegin kergek boltı, Körür közüm körmez teg, Bilir bilig bilmez teg Boltı, özüm sakıntım. Türük bodun, ökün sen! Üze teŋri basmasar, Asra yer telinmeser, Eliŋin kim artatır? Ötüken yışta olur, Beŋgü taş tokıttım men, Bunı körüp biliŋler, Eliŋ törüŋ tuta bil. Translation: I am the Qaghan born of Heaven, I am Bilge Qaghan of the Türks. In this age I took the throne; Hear my words to the very end. My father, Elterish Qaghan, My mother, Elbilge Khatun— Heaven, holding them at its summit, Raised them up on high. Eastward, to where the sun rises, Westward, to where it sets, Southward, to the midday sun, Northward, to the midnight— I campaigned and conquered peoples. All the peoples within those bounds Were subject to me. Thus did I gain so great a realm. The people who were about to perish, I revived and nourished. The naked I clothed; The poor I made rich. The few I made numerous. I upheld the realm and its law. Kül Tegin passed away. My seeing eyes became as though blind, My knowing mind as though unknowing. Thus was I, and I grieved. Türk people, take heed! Unless Heaven above should collapse, Unless the earth below should split apart, Who could destroy your realm? Dwell in the forest of Ötüken. I had this eternal stone inscribed. Look upon it and know these words; Know how to preserve your realm and your law.