Moğollar (read Turkish version here | listen to music samples)
Introduction
Moğollar, one of the first and most founding names that come to mind when 'Anadolu Pop' is mentioned in Turkish music, is a legendary group that staged an East-West synthesis with their journey starting in Istanbul in 1967. The story of the team, known as the group that first gave the name 'Anadolu Pop' to their music, extends to their work with CBS in Paris and winning the Academie Charles Cros Grand Prize (Grand Prix du Disque) award in 1971. Their work, accepted as the first composed Anadolu Pop hit titled 'Dağ ve Çocuk', showed that music is not just an entertainment but a tool that tells geography and emotions.
The group's name and presentation are also full of legendary details. It is known that the name 'Moğollar' was chosen on the advice of a Dutch music writer to 'make it clear they came from the East', and that sheepskins borrowed from Öztürk Serengil were used in promotional photos. The group, which disbanded in 1976, reunited to cement their place in history with the signature campaign by Leman magazine cartoonist Kaan Ertem in 1992 and a concert at Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall in 1993. Their work together with Barış Manço in Paris under the name 'MançoMongol' also symbolizes the international collaborations of this period.
Although there are overlaps in founding details and award names in some sources regarding the group's history, they have an undisputed place among the founding pioneers of Turkish music with songs like 'Ilgaz', 'Haliç'te Gün Batışı', and 'Garip Çoban'. Moğollar, blending Anatolian rock, psychedelic rock, and pop tones with traditional melodies, maintains its vitality through its musical legacy for generations despite biographical uncertainties in sources.
Biography
Accepted as one of the cornerstones of Anatolian rock and pop music, Moğollar is a legendary group established in Istanbul in 1967. The group chose its name on the advice of a Dutch music writer to 'make it clear they came from the East', and even reinforced this image by taking eye-catching photos with sheepskins borrowed from Öztürk Serengil in their first promotional works. Although their musical identity was shaped within the boundaries of Anatolian rock, psychedelic rock, and Anadolu pop, they took the lead in defining the genre by naming their music 'Anadolu Pop' in October 1969. While the song 'Dağ ve Çocuk' went down in history as the first composed Anadolu Pop hit, works like 'Eastern Love', 'Artık Çok Geç', 'Ilgaz', and 'Haliç'te Gün Batışı' are among the group's representative titles.
The group, which began to be known with the first 45 rpm record they released in February 1968, caught their first serious successes in June of the same year by participating in the Altın Mikrofon contest and coming in third with the work 'Ilgaz'. Immediately after, they went to Paris in 1970, started working with the CBS company, and achieved success internationally with their first album released in 1971. Although the name of the award appears sometimes as 'Academie Charles Cros Grand Prize' and sometimes as 'Grand Prix du Disque' in sources, it is generally accepted that the group received this prestigious award in 1971. Another notable point in their career is performing under the name 'MançoMongol' by working together with Barış Manço in Paris during this period.
Although the group disbanded for a while in 1976, they decided to reunite thanks to the signature campaign started by Leman magazine cartoonist Kaan Ertem in 1992. As a result of these efforts, they returned to the stage after a long break by giving a concert at Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall on May 31, 1993. Then they released their 'Moğollar '94' album in 1994 and proceeded on the path of consolidation.
However, there are some uncertainties when detailing the group's career story. Sources sometimes highlight the names of Murat Ses and Aziz Azmet regarding the group's founding, while some sources state it was founded by 5 young musicians, and a full consensus cannot be reached. Additionally, since individual birth and death dates of members and exact days of some album release dates are not included in current sources, the group history is told through the general flow, avoiding individual details. Nevertheless, Moğollar continued to leave a strong mark in Turkish music from the late 1960s to the 1990s with albums like 'Hitit Sun', 'Düm-Tek', and 'Danses Et Rythmes De La Turquie D'Hier À Aujourd'hui'.
Style
Moğollar stands out as a legendary group that blended Anatolian rock, psychedelic rock, and Anadolu pop genres with a pioneering synthesis in the sound texture of Turkish music history. The group's musical personality is defined by developing an original language that brings together traditional Anatolian melodies with Western rock and psychedelic structures. Moğollar, who gave the name 'Anadolu Pop' to their music in 1969, are pioneers who named the genre and recorded the first composed Anadolu Pop hit with the song 'Dağ ve Çocuk'. Their repertoire tells social and personal stories by processing Anatolian geography, nature, labor, and emotional themes in works like 'Dağ ve Çocuk', 'Garip Çoban', 'Haliç'te Gün Batışı', 'Mektup', and 'İndim Havuz Başına'.
Details such as their name being chosen on the advice of a Dutch music writer with the aim to 'make it clear they came from the East', and the use of sheepskins borrowed from Öztürk Serengil in promotional photos, show that they also reflected this synthesis approach in their visual world in identity construction. Their work with the CBS company in Paris and winning the Academie Charles Cros Grand Prize (Grand Prix du Disque) award in 1971 proves that this musical approach also found resonance internationally.
However, in preparing this style analysis, it is essential to draw attention to the limitations of current sources. Individual birth and death dates of members are not included in sources, and there are overlaps in founding details (between Murat Ses and Aziz Azmet founding and the claim of 5 young musicians). Most importantly, there is no detailed data that would allow the creation of a reliable and unique profile about the artists' individual voice characteristics and interpretation styles. Therefore, this section is constructed primarily through the group's collective musical orientation, repertoire themes, and historical musical identity, within the framework allowed by sources.
Songs and Recordings
Moğollar's song index begins with groundbreaking records that laid the foundations of Anatolian rock and pop. The group's first step into the music world happened with the songs 'Eastern Love' and 'Artık Çok Geç' in their first 45s released in February 1968. The group, which made a name for itself by securing third place with 'Ilgaz' in the Altın Mikrofon contest in June of the same year, clarified its musical identity in a short time. One of the most critical works of this period was 'Dağ ve Çocuk'; this piece, accepted as the first composed Anadolu Pop hit, became a symbol of the group's style.
Among other prominent works dealing with Anatolian geography, nature, and emotional themes are 'Garip Çoban', 'Haliç'te Gün Batışı', 'Mektup', and 'İndim Havuz Başına'. The group went to Paris in 1970 and as a result of working with the CBS company, released their first album named 'Academie Charles Cros' in 1971. This album cemented its success on the international stage by winning the Academie Charles Cros Grand Prize (Grand Prix du Disque) award. While the 'Hitit Sun' / 'Düm-Tek' album released in 1975 is among the important records of this period, the 'Moğollar '94' album released after the restructuring process in 1993 symbolizes the group's subsequent period. Also, the recording 'Danses Et Rythmes De La Turquie D'Hier À Aujourd'hui (Concert Hall - 1971)' maintains its place in the discography as an important work documenting the concert performances the group presented under the title Rhythms and Dances from Turkey from Yesterday to Today.
Context
Moğollar, which stepped onto the music scene in Istanbul in 1967, is considered one of the most defining groups in Turkish rock history. Although there are differences in sources regarding founding details related to the group, it is certain that the group was among the pioneers establishing the East-West synthesis at the end of the sixties. They are known with their first 45s released in February 1968 'Eastern Love/Artık Çok Geç', and in June of the same year at the Altın Mikrofon contest with the song 'Ilgaz' they record their first important success coming in third. With the name 'Anadolu Pop' they gave to their music in October 1969, they took the position of the producer group that named this genre.
It is seen that the group left a mark internationally as well as its national success. Moğollar, who went to Paris in 1970 and worked with the CBS company, were deemed worthy of the Academie Charles Cros Grand Prize in 1971 with their first released album. Although sources also mention the award as 'Grand Prix du Disque', the prestige of the award does not change. The group disbanded after continuing their activities until 1976, but reunited at Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall on May 31, 1993, and returned to the stage after the signature campaign started by Leman magazine cartoonist Kaan Ertem in 1992.
Moğollar's name preferences and visual world are also full of notes that have passed into music history. The name they adopted on the advice of a Dutch music writer to 'make it clear they came from the East' was further reinforced by promotional photos taken with sheepskins borrowed from Öztürk Serengil. They carried out works together under the name 'MançoMongol' with Barış Manço in Paris, showing proximity to the same stage school as important names of the era like Cem Karaca, Selda Bağcan. While the work 'Dağ ve Çocuk' went down in history as the first composed Anadolu Pop hit, with songs like 'Garip Çoban', 'Haliç'te Gün Batışı', they blended Anatolian geography and emotions with rock and psychedelic tones. Although individual career histories on a member basis are not clarified in sources, the legacy they left as a group is considered a critical turning point in Anatolian music evolution.
Legacy and Lasting Traces
Moğollar, as one of the most defining constructs of Turkish music history, has become the name of a musical movement beyond just being a rock group. The group that set out from Istanbul in 1967, by formalizing a genre with the name 'Anadolu Pop' they gave to their musical approaches in 1969, rose to the position of the founding pioneer of this concept. This naming is the first and most lasting signature of that unique synthesis blending Anatolian melodies with modern rock and psychedelic structures. Especially the acceptance of the song 'Dağ ve Çocuk' as the first composed Anadolu Pop hit is a concrete proof of the group's musical innovation.
Another important pillar of the group's legacy is its success in carrying Turkish music to the international stage. Going to Paris in 1970, working with the CBS company, and winning the Academie Charles Cros (Grand Prix du Disque) Grand Prize in 1971 is one of the rare cases proving that a local sound can carry universal value. Works like 'Eastern Love', 'Ilgaz', 'Haliç'te Gün Batışı', and 'Garip Çoban' transcended that period and were engraved into the memory of Anatolian rock and pop listeners for generations. The collaboration they realized under the name 'MançoMongol' with Barış Manço in Paris is also remembered as an important part of the organic bond and collective creativity between the artists of that generation.
Their efforts to preserve their place in cultural memory is another indicator showing how much Moğollar possesses a loyal audience. The group, which disbanded in 1976, was set in motion by the signature campaign started by Leman magazine cartoonist Kaan Ertem in 1992 and came together again at Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall on May 31, 1993, certifying that their music was not just a one-period phenomenon. Their choice of the group's name on the advice of a Dutch music writer to 'make it clear they came from the East' and the use of sheepskins borrowed from Öztürk Serengil in promotional photos symbolize the creative spirit and the courage to push boundaries of that era.
Although there are differences and omissions in sources regarding details such as founding members' names or individual birth and death dates, Moğollar's group legacy is certain. In this journey extending from 1967 to today, the group that transformed Anatolia's sounds into a universal language continues to be remembered with a founding and inspiring position in Turkish music.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Moğollar form its name and visual image? The group chose its name on the advice of a Dutch music writer to 'make it clear they came from the East'. This image was visually reinforced by using sheepskins borrowed from Öztürk Serengil in initial promotional works.
What is the group's biggest success internationally? Moğollar, who went to Paris in 1970 and began working with the CBS company, cemented its success on the international stage by winning the Academie Charles Cros Grand Prize (Grand Prix du Disque) with their first album in 1971.
Which work is accepted as the first hit song of the 'Anadolu Pop' genre? The group, which gave the name 'Anadolu Pop' to its music in 1969, recorded the first composed Anadolu Pop hit with the work titled 'Dağ ve Çocuk' and took the lead of this genre.
How did the group come together after disbanding? The group, which disbanded in 1976, decided to reunite thanks to the signature campaign started by Leman magazine cartoonist Kaan Ertem in 1992, and returned to the stage by giving a concert at Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall on May 31, 1993.
What kind of collaboration did they carry out with Barış Manço? The group lived an important partnership symbolizing the international collaborations of this period by carrying out works under the name 'MançoMongol' together with Barış Manço in Paris.
What uncertainties exist in the sources regarding Moğollar's biographical data? In sources, there are overlaps and omissions regarding founding details (Murat Ses and Aziz Azmet founding vs. claim of 5 young musicians), individual birth and death dates of members, and exact days of some album release dates. Also, sometimes differences are seen regarding award names.