Thursday, December 5, 2013

Gubaidulina at Amoeba Music



It can't be much longer that they continue to sell Sofia Gubaidulina CD's at Amoeba Music. There is nobody in this place and it's as big as the airport.  It will shut soon.  Last time we visited, the Zulya section was GONE and Gubaidulina section a bit sparse.  We did happen to pick up a copy of "Glorious Percussion - In Tempus Praesens". 

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Peremech in a Toyota Corolla

Two Peremech in a plastic bag transforms any car into a luxury car.  Try it!

Eni with İt Bäleş

Look how proud she is of her İt Bäleş.
Tatar mothers are the best!
 

Tatar Leather Souvenirs


Folk Costume of the Soviet Union - Tatar

posted for image
We do not possess a copy of this book (yet)

İt Bäleş - Tatar Meat Pie


These hearty savory pies are called "İt Bäleş" (pronounced "eet belish") literally translating as "meat pie".   Tatars within Tatarstan do not typically include cellophane noodles (bean threads). I'd often heard of the noodles referred to as "Finchoza".  This is a touch added by Tatars living in East Asia.

This pie was made by Eni - Talia Dolling.  She should get some credit, No?

Russian Center - Punk Club


In the mid to late 1980's in San Francisco, the Russian Center in San Francisco would rent out the main hall to music promoters. Many famous California Punk Rock bands performed in the Russian Center.  This building is not used by Tatars.  As we enter this building,  for the annual Russian festival for example, we are visitors and guests.  It is a friendly environment.  They no longer have rock-shows.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Samarkand - Samarqand - سمرقند


Samarkand / Samarqand / Самарқанд /  
 سمرقند
 (Uzbek: Samarqand Самарқанд; Persian: سمرقند‎; Russian: Самарканд from Sogdian: "Stone Fort" or "Rock Town"; Mongolian: Самарканд from "Nut Rock" or "Hard Rock") is the second-largest city in Uzbekistan and the capital of Samarqand Province. The city is most noted for its central position on the Silk Road between China and the West, and for being an Islamic center for scholarly study.  During the 14th century it became the capital of the empire of Timur (Tamerlane) and is the site of his mausoleum (the Gur-e Amir). The Bibi-Khanym Mosque (a modern replica) remains one of the city's most notable landmarks. The Registan was the ancient center of the city. The city has carefully preserved the traditions of ancient crafts: embroidery, gold embroidery, silk weaving, engraving on copper, ceramics, carving and painting on wood.

In 2001 UNESCO added Samarkand to its list of World Heritage Sites





1

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12


These postcards were purchased at a charity shop in San Francisco.  There is something to be said that citizens of San Francisco travel to these distant places.  San Francisco is a melting pot where Tatars have their place.   The ruins at Bulgar are minimal in comparison to the glory of Samarkand.  It makes us a tad envious.  Samarkand is in Uzbekistan and the Uzbek are Turkic people, cousins of Tatars.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Devletsah Peremech - Perfection!

Facebook is better everyday now that our people have begun to post images of their passion for Peremech and the majesty that is Peremech Culture!  One problem is all the drooling all over the computer.

These prize winning Peremech are from the kitchen of Remziye Devletsah in California.  Look how BIG they are!  and Yes, Remziye Apa these are just beautiful! 

Aş Bulsın!

Kayçan Gına Kilerseñ Sin

This is a pretty Tatar tune.  I added the guitar chords.
I think the first time we heard this was the Finnish band "Başkarma" but there was a lovely interpretation the other day on "Jirliyk Äle" that made us rush to our archives and dig out this sheet music and pick up the guitar. 

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Bulgars - Book on Amazon

Facing off against Byzantines, Arabs, Vikings, Turks, Mongols, and Russians, this steppe culture dominated Black Sea and Caucasus trade during Medieval times.

The Bulgars were a Turkic people who established a state north of the Black Sea, and who showed similarities with the Alans and Sarmatians. In the late 500s and early 600s AD their state fragmented under pressure from the Khazars; one group moved south into what became Bulgaria, but the rest moved north during the 7th and 8th centuries to the basin of the Volga river. There they remained under Khazar domination until the Khazar Khanate was defeated by Kievan (Scandinavian) Russia in 965. Thereafter the Volga Bulgars - controlling an extensive area surrounding an important hub of international trade - became richer and more influential; they embraced Islam, becoming the most northerly of medieval peoples to do so. Given their central position on trade routes, their armies were noted for the splendour of their armour and weapons, which drew upon both Western and Eastern sources and influences (as, eventually, did their fighting tactics).

In the 1220s they managed to maul Genghis Khan's Mongols, who returned to devastate their towns in revenge. By the 1350s they had recovered much of their wealth, but they were caught in the middle between the Tatar Golden Horde and the Christian Russian principalities. They were ravaged by these two armies in turn on several occasions between 1360 and 1431. A new city then rose from the ashes - Kazan, originally called New Bulgar - and the successor Islamic Khanate of Kazan resisted the Russians until falling to Ivan the Terrible in 1552. The costumes, armament, armour and fighting methods of the Volga Bulgars during this momentous period are explored in this fully illustrated study.

from this book on sale through Amazon.


Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Meet the Stans -- episodes 3&4: Uzbekistan and Tajikistan


Meet the Stans -- episodes 3&4: Uzbekistan and Tajikistan

This series is very interesting.  It is BBC produced and they visit Central Asia, exploring history, politics, popular culture.   Uzbek people are Turkic and "cousins" of Kazan Tatars.  The Tajik are more closely related to Persians. 

--------------------

Here is part 1 and 2 about Kazakhstan and Kirgizstan.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Kukten Ingen Delil - two months later...

I just received this Tatar book from Russia.   I ordered it through E-Bay and it took TWO MONTHS to arrive.  The merchant I was dealing with was very polite and I believe an honest guy.  I asked him how he could stay in business when shipping in Russia is so poor.  He blamed the shipping on a restructuring of the postal service.   Still I am happy and very fortunate to be owner of the only copy of this book in North America!   It is of detective stories.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Gengis Khan A La Conquete Du Monde 2011



We post videos relating to Genghis Khan because the Tatar people of Tatarstan were once subjugated by his empire. Tatars are not Mongolian.

Film Genghis Khan 1965 الفيلم التاريخي جنكيز خان مترجم


Film Genghis Khan 1965 الفيلم التاريخي جنكيز خان مترجم
We post videos relating to Genghis Khan because the Tatar people of Tatarstan were once subjugated by his empire. Tatars are not Mongolian.

The Golden Horde - Obligatory decadent banquet scene


The Golden Horde (1951) - Obligatory decadent banquet scene

We post videos relating to Genghis Khan because the Tatar people of Tatarstan were once subjugated by his empire. Tatars are not Mongolian. 

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Su Buylap - With Tatar Images


Ay Bilbilim - Ай, былбылым


Ай, былбылым - Tatar Folk Song

Ilham Shakirov - Hush Awilim


Илһам Шакиров - Хуш, авылым

Ришат Тухватуллин - Сандугач


Rishat Tuhvatullin - Sandugach

Bibinur - Бибинур


Bibinur

Минем заманам - Minem Zamanam

Зулейха - Zuleyha - Tatar Film

This film is an hour and half long.  
Зулейха - Zuleyha

Tatar Turkler - Тюркский Народ Татары


We watched this with captions and translation turned on and captions were helpful.
This film is about Tatar history and is in Russian.

(from youTube user KazakAmerican)

"Esman" - Alie Hadzhabadinova


"Esman" - Alie Hadzhabadinova

Crimean Tatar Folk Song. 

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Tatars Love Monuments

Tatar living within Tatarstan have likely seen tremendous monuments of their heritage, Soyembike tower, the ruins of Bulghar, or more likely Monumental Soviet relics, soldiers and workers, meant to inspire and honour their sacrifice. 
  
So when are we going to see a mountainside with Gabdullah Tukay?  Musa Jalil? Mardzhani? ...

Turkish Protests in San Francisco



Friends send me photos here and there of items relating to Turkic peoples.  This is from last week.  With all of the protests going on in Taksim Square in Istanbul, a group formed in San Francisco's Civic Center Plaza to protest the tear gassing of protesters.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Friday, April 19, 2013