GRGR1: Discussion opener for section 1, #12

[vacomm at interlog.com]

>12) Anyone know the song (the san-jak of No-vi Pa-zar! p 14). Care to
>etc.
>Sanjak and Novi seem to relate to Turkey, which became Westernized in
>the 20s and joined the Allies in 1945, presumably after some serious
>work by The Firm.  Can't find any link to Pazar, but check out TRP's
>references to 'Balkanosis, and the 'Ottaman rump'. 

Close, but no banana.  For what it's worth, then: Sanjak *is* a Turkicism, 
meaning something like a regional or administrative district.  Novi Pazar is actually
a provincial market town in South West Serbia, mainly Moslem populated 
and close to the border with Montenegro, whose name means "New Market." 
As far as I am aware, though I'm no expert on the 30's London musical scene, 
there is no song that goes by the title "the Sanjak of Novi Pazar."  Since the 
town is most definitely not associated with any momentous historical event or 
even a minor diplomatic/political/international cabbal in the Balkans, I suspect 
that Pynchon uses it to further spoof the convoluted diplomatic irrelevancies of
the inter-War period.  The Firm, if you like.  Possibly, also, for the handy little 
pun its name affords him.  For what it's worth, as I said. . . .

Vaska

Toronto, Canada
vacomm at interlog.com