Composer and songwriter of 1st of May march passes away

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Sarper Özsan who both composed and wrote the lyrics of the 1st of May march very popular in Türkiye passed away at the age of 78.

Written in 1974, the march was banned at the time and became very popular on the 1st of May of the year 1977.

"What the days bring today is oppression, cruelty, and blood
But this will not go on as such, exploitation will not last
A brand new life will come, for us and for everyone," says the lyrics of the march.

The march is most popular with its interpretations by Timur Selçuk and Cem Karaca.

Özsan first took mandolin lessons from Kemal Eroğlu and graduated from the Ankara conservatory composition department in 1969.

He started to work at TRT, the Television and Radio Institution of the time in 1970, the single public television and radio company of the country at the time. He was arrested in 1971 and stayed in prison for 20 months. He then worked at the İstanbul Conservatory and returned to TRT in 1978. Taken away from his duty in the executive board of TRT in 1982 he returned to the institution again in 1990 after a supreme court decision.

Özsan trained the Aydınlık chorus in 1977 composed of workers, villagers, and students, and gave many concerts in different parts of the country.

He also composed soundtracks for different films and received the Best Music award with his work for the Av Zamanı (Hunting Time) film in 1989 at the 2ne Ankara Film Festival. (AÖ/PE)