Sibel Üçal's first commercial album, Haykır Yüreğim (Cry Out My heart) 
is a wonderful introduction to what it means to be both Turkish and 
Christian. For those who have not heard any of her previous six 
releases, this inspirational double-disk album, featuring 15 Turkish 
Christian hymns sung in both Turkish and English expresses her love, 
devotion and longing as a Turkish follower of Christ. With pure vocals 
and true sincerity, Sibel sings a mix of thought-provoking lyrics 
including "As a Parched Land Thirsts for Water" and upbeat songs like 
"Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God."

Composer Turgay Üçal, Sibel’s husband, has brought his traditional 
musical heritage again to the forefront in their most mature and 
innovative work to date. Drawing from the Turkish makam modal system, 
urban art-song and Persian couplet poetic form, these songs truly touch 
the core of the heart.

Sibel is accompanied by an urban art music ensemble: bendir (frame 
drum), tambur (fretted string instrument), kanun (zither), ney (flute), 
kemençe (bowed fiddle), strings and cello.

As you listen to this one-of-a-kind Turkish sacred music, keep in mind 
that it has been integrated into the worship practice of a local 
Protestant church in Istanbul.  Thus, it has contributed to the creation 
of a unique, Christian community identity in a predominantly Muslim 
country.


[TRACKLIST] 
1 Nihavend Tanbur Taksimi 00:00:57 
2 Haykır Yüreğim 00:03:56 
3 Cry out My Heart 00:03:56 
4 Dinle Yüreğim Dinle 00:04:11
5 Listen Closely 00:04:12 
6 Dünya Denen Bu Çölde 00:03:16 
7 In This Desert Called the World 00:03:17 
8 Ey Şanı Yüce Olan 00:04:07 
9 O You Glorius One 00:04:09 
10 Ey Kutsal Irmak 00:05:34 
11 O Holy River 00:05:32 
12 Kutsal, Kutsal, Kutsal Allah 00:03:03
13 Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God 00:03:03 
14 Ey Gökler Ey Yer 00:04:47 
15 O Heavens, O Earth 00:04:47
16 Hicaz Ud Taksim 00:00:48