The "Istiklal Marsi" (The Independence March) was officially adopted as Turkey's National Anthem on March 12, 1921. 724 poems were submitted to a competition organized to find and select themost suitable original composition for this March, and a poem written by the poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy was adopted unanimously by the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Twenty-four composers participated in another competition arranged for the selectionof a musical composition for the National Anthem. The Council, which was only able to convene in 1924, due to the War of Independence adopted the music composed by Ali Rifat Çagatay. The words of the National Anthem were sung to this music for eight years.Thereafter, the nusic of the National Anthem was changed to an arrangement written by Zeki Üngör, conductor of the Presidental Symphonic Orchestra, and the words of the National Anthem have been sung to this musical accompainment ever since.
Fear not and be not dismayed,
This crimson flag will never fade
It is the last hearth that's burning for my nation and
We know for sure that it will never fail.
It is my nation's star that ever forth will shine.
It is nation's star and it is mine.
--------------------------------
Frown not, fair crescent, for I
Am ready e'en to die for thee.
Smile now upon my heroic nation, leave this anger,
Lest the blood shed for the unblessed be,
Freedom's the right of this my nation,
Yes, freedom for us who worship God and seek what's right.
