Singer Serenad Bagcan and Fazil Say recorded ten songs on texts by the most famous Turkish poets for the CD album Ilk Sarkilar (First Songs) in 2013. In these early compositions, Say lays the foundation for many melodic elements of later large-scale works such as the Nâzim Oratorio and the etin Altiok Requiem. The very own style of these songs resembles French chansons and evokes a feel of world music. The cycle also makes for a rewarding collection of piano pieces when played without a singer.