The Dead City of Kaya-Kay: Music by Boris Shumsky
Introduction
Dead City Kaya Kay is a mysterious settlement in the mountains of Turkey. It inspires music and creative interpretations. Once a bustling community, it now lies in picturesque ruins. The area preserves a unique romantic atmosphere that captivates travelers. Its singular ambiance inspired Boris Shumsky to create a musical piece accompanying this article.
Ghostly Hills
Kaya Kay is mystical and sometimes eerie, with a rich history. Once thriving, it now stands abandoned. Its ruins preserve lyrical beauty and memories that inspire music and a poetic mood. This location attracts historians, artists, and travelers seeking a unique atmosphere and captivating stories.
Hiking
One of my most memorable and highly recommended hiking tours!
I emphasize — hiking! This is the only way to fully enjoy the magical view of the Dead City, as soon as you descend from the forested mountain trail.
The ghost of Kaya Kay rests on a picturesque slope. Bells of domestic goats from nearby pastures add a piercingly sad note.
After a bizarre mountain trail, as a reward for your efforts and the breakfast you missed at the hotel, the fantastic remains of the Greek city of Carmelesos suddenly open up before you.
History
Dating back to around 1400 AD, Kaya Kay has witnessed many tragedies. I will leave aside the mass ethnic persecutions after the First World War and the earthquakes of the 1950s.
About 3,000 residential buildings, monasteries, churches, chapels, several pharmacies, and one school remain. Everything has been left to the inexorable passage of time without careful human care. It has now become a unique place for tourist pilgrimage.
While state structures plan to restore the site as a symbol of Turkish-Greek friendship, curious visitors can immerse themselves in the picturesque desolation. They can walk narrow stone streets and, using imagination, revive this long-abandoned settlement.
Here’s the Highlight for You!
The highlight — the video!
Thanks to authentic photographs and original music by Boris Shumsky, a real sense of presence in that world centuries ago is created.
Living History
To the enchanting music of Boris Shumsky, the imagination breathes life into the past. Streets fill with people. The space comes alive with voices, children’s laughter, birdsong, and the distant sound of surf.
Pictures from the past pass before the mind’s eye — battles of thousands of troops, coronation celebrations, intrigues, secret meetings of lovers, serenades, and poems dedicated to Love.
Birth and death, grief and joy, tears of the elderly, and the carefree laughter of a child — all are traces of a vanished world, the silent memory of generations.
More Stories
For more unusual city stories, read our article on Longyearbyen, the northernmost settlement in the world. Eternal daylight, burial bans, and extreme Arctic living create a truly unique existence.
Lyrical Themes
Boris Shumsky also explored lyrical themes in his work. One example is his piece “Feminine Mood,” first performed in Cherkasy on March 8, 2017.
About the Author
Yes, but not only music is beautiful … Remarkable images of artistic description, plunging us into the history of bygone times!
Чудесная Музыка!!! ☻♦☻♦♣