How petty is this

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
20/05/2011 21:22

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/cy-keep-re-jigged-bicommunal-song/20110520



CYPRUS Airways (CY) will continue to air a Greek only version of a bilingual musical composition for their in-flight entertainment, despite opposition by bicommunalists.



Hymn for Cyprus was made for Cyprus’ 50th anniversary last year - composed by Greek Cypriot Roman Kariolou and with complementary Turkish and Greek Lyrics by Turkish Cypriot Neshe Yashin.



Two sopranos, Vasfiye Çak?rta? and Katerina Mina performed the original piece.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
20/05/2011 21:23

Kariolou and Mina have since recorded a new version - without the Turkish lyrics, which they offered for free to CY.



CY spokesman Kyriacos Kyriacou said yesterday: “They offered this song for use in our aircraft... as a complete work. The song is very beautiful and we really liked it.”

However, not all are happy with the new version, or with Mina and Kariolou’s failure to credit the Turkish Cypriot contributors to the original.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
20/05/2011 21:24

Vasfiye Çak?rta? said; “We would like to reflect the universality of our profession with this bi-communal project and sing the song in two languages. I will make efforts to change this unacceptable situation because this song does not have any meaning if sung in one language only.”



Kyriacou said that objections were politically motivated and that it would not take the song off air: “We do not want to enter a political discussion – we are a commercial company and do not have anything to do with politics.”



However, for Yashin the issue is more about artistic integrity than politics, since Çak?rta? and her efforts “were completely ignored.”

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
20/05/2011 21:24

She said that without the Turkish, the piece loses its original meaning: “I feel bitter about this because the meaning of this work is to be bi-communal. The words in the original are written to complete each other and I feel (The Greek only version) is not complete.”



She added: “This project is dedicated to peace and I will do my best to stop its presentation in one language only. I would have done the same if Mina was ignored and was presented by Vasifye (Çak?rta?) only.”



It is not only the changes to the song that have upset Yashin. In an interview with BBC London Radio – available on YouTube.com, Mina spoke at length about the music without mentioning Yashin.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
20/05/2011 21:25

At one point she describes it as: “A beautiful amazing piece... written to touch the hearts of many people. This is going out there to the world and reaching everyone.”

Nor does the iTunes website - where the song is on sale - mention Yashin or the Turkish lyrics.



Mina said: “This is just a one off, could go out as a single, and will go out on iTunes. What we are trying to do is find ways to make this piece last and relate it to the country and represent Cyprus in a special way.”

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
20/05/2011 21:25

Yashin said: “The interview made me very upset. The Turkish Cypriot Soprano (who performed the original with her) wrote to Katerina Mina, but she got no reply. I feel that there is some kind of arrogance there.”



Kyriacou said that CY would not consider removing or replacing the song with the original version.

Mina was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Tango1


Joined: 19/02/2011
Posts: 1151

Message Posted:
20/05/2011 21:35

However No1, it appears to becoming symptomatic of they way things are going. Whilst this mindset continues, what chance is there of a peaceful settlement. The other side seem to become more and more inflexible with every pronouncement and remark I hear and read about, from every walk of life as well.



Tango1

Zoots


Joined: 05/02/2011
Posts: 669

Message Posted:
20/05/2011 21:49

Tango,

You can't compare what's happened here with the political situation at present. All right-thinking people would agree that the attitudes of those exploiting this song for their own ends without crediting others' input is absolutely disgraceful. It's not politics but rather arrogance. It seems certain egos are getting carried away without realising the potential moral and legal implications.

LaptaMike


Joined: 07/10/2009
Posts: 1679

Message Posted:
20/05/2011 21:50

Bomb the buggers. (GC's don't mean the airline, not that I would fly with them anyway.)

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
20/05/2011 22:02

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHxHwlBhX9c