Saz: An Introduction
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ม.ค. 2025
- In this video, we explore the history and features of the Saz/Baglama, one of the most prominent instruments in Anatolia.
Sources/Recomended Reading:
de Zeeuw, Hans (2019). "Tanbur: Long-Necked Lutes along the silk-road and beyond". Archaeopress.
de Zeeuw, Hans (2020). "The Turkish Long-Necked Lute: Saz or Baglama". Archaeopress.
de Zeeuw, Hans (2022). "The Ottoman Tanbur: The Long-Necked Lute of Ottoman Art Music". Archaeopress.
Hammarlund, Anders, Tord Olsson & Elizabeth Özdalga (1997). "Sufism, Music and Society in Turkey and the Middle East". Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul.
Jenkins, Jean & Paul Rovsing Olsen (1976). "Music and Musical Instruments in the World of Islam". World of Islam Festival Publishing Company Ltd.
Wright, Owen (2018). "Music Theory in the Safavid Era: The taqsīm al-naġamāt". Routledge; 1st edition.
#saz #bağlama #music
I lived on the Black Sea coast in Samsun, Turkiyi. I saw a man carrying a baglama. I asked him where he got it. He led me to the shop. A master craftsman made a baglama for me for $15. I played it in folk coffee houses in the 60’s in New England. I appreciate the spiritual quality of this instrument. Your talent as a teacher in many fields is deeply respected.
❤️❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Hey men ! I am from Samsun
wow imagine you are turkish and walk into a random coffee house in new england there is a guy playing baglama :D
Hey man would you help me buy a baglama as you have mentioned
Hi, metalhead from Türkiye. I'm playing classical and elecric guitar and love heavy metal. But nowadays I'm also learning bağlama. Diversity in music is a woonderful thing, learning totally different techniques and scales is fun. Thanks for great video.
Woow, I'm a big fan of let's talk religion.
But I've never thought you were such a talented musician 😍, how many talents you've got there 🔥🌸
Unbelievable
I couldn't believe seeing my best youtuber (who talks religion) playing Saz when I searched Saz music. Even my wife said is he not your friend?!!! you are very talented Mashallah!
Surprise!
All spiritual folks end up talking to their instruments because talking to people isn’t safe these days
This man is a source of surprises and talent... MashAllah
I adore this instrument and the music of Anatolia. Thank you for this.
You and me both!
As an Alevi Kurd, it was so refreshing to hear how thorough and inclusive your research and considerations of the saz's history were presented! I play the violin, my dad plays the saz and we sing together in Turkish and Kurdish. It's always a joy to see our music and messages spread across cultural boundaries with respect and admiration. Thank you for this wonderful video.
Where are you from brother Alavi is our Shia people it's the same like 12 imams
Even the lamenting tones are wonderful to hear. The celeste element evokes mystery as well as warmth on happier songs. I love Balama. I suppose there are many many Balama fans.
After watching the beautiful and fascinating documentary by Petra Machtnanova I bought myself one of these last year. It’s very hard to find learning material in English. I’m thinking of learning Turkish.
That is a lovely documentary! And she plays really well!
Oh i love Petra, the roots revival concert is just amazing ✨✨
@@FilipHolm Brother please don't use the human image as an image of God in your "Let's talk religion channel". You can use the image of light instead. Your channels are great!
@@FilipHolm can you please do a few videos teaching saz
@@arditaavdija6614 Just watched it after seeing this introduction to the SAZ. This led me to her travels in Anatolia and then the Roots Revival. Tanbur is also the name of a ceremony in Yoruba, All this morning. Thank you to this creator.
Thoroughly enjoyed this, particularly the history part. I first heard the baglama when I visited Konya, Turkey back in 2017 and I was immediately entranced by the sound, When I saw a shop selling them I decided to try a long neck one out. I play bass guitar as my main instrument, and with a little experimentation I was soon able to make satisfying sounds. I ended up buying that instrument and bringing it back to London. I probably enjoy playing it more than anything else.
That’s so cool I’d love to hear what you play as primarily a bassist!
🤔👍🏼
I was introduced to such musical traditions by The rhythm divine on Radio National Australia. I am forever grateful having my life opened up to spiritual music fr m around the world. My favourite is Sufi fusion and Kieran music from India.
Türkler tarafından anadoluya kopuz getirilidi burada çeşitli değişimler gösterek bugünkü bağlama halini aldı. Tambur çok farklı bir çalgı ve orta doğu ve mısıra ait.
Lovely playing...and loved the explanations.
Thanks!
Thank you!
I have a bağlama saz...a fascinating otherworldly instrument - do a Greek bouzouki someday! I have a bouzouki as well...love it!
The turks in Türkiye love and play that instrument. Some famous singers of that instrument are Neşet Ertaş, Orhan Gencebay, Arif Sağ.
Filip, THANK YOU so much for this beautiful video.... and all the detailed explanation, about the history, and developments over the centuries... of this amazing instrument. WOW ! 🙂
Baglama/Saz is the soul and spirit of eastern music, more so of Anatolia. It can sound morbidly sad or blissfully happy depending on the "mood" and context its played in. Thank you Filip for reminding me of your music channel as i had watched your lets talk religion with awe and fascination, the in depth information you provide to us. May your God bless you, love and peace from Melbourne Australia.
This is fantastic! Saz is one of my favourite instruments. I have always wanted to learn (among other middle eastern instruments) but Saz teachers seem to be few and far between.
if you live in western countries you can go to alevi association, there's always a teahcer of saz
@@celalboi2836 🙏 Thank you ❤️
Utterly delightful. And I love how you let us stumble upon this by complete happenstance, as I just did, after following your incomparable religion talks for years. Indeed this felicity could be straight out of Gurdjieff's Meetings With Remarkable Men, as that is what brought me to TH-cam for the past few days, sprinkled with sufi music. And then your saz appeared. Rather perfect really. Thank you.
Hahahaha. I was thinking "This guy's amazing", but not so much for your saz playing skills but for your thoroughness and appreciation for real history. Oh, how I relish antiquity in all it's forms.
The instrument “Saz,” or more accurately “Baglama,” is one of the most important rituals among the „Alevi“ people, as the prayers, also known as “Deyis“ are accompanied by this beautiful instrument.
It plays a central role in their religion and practices - the rituals called „Cem“ as same as my name :)
Thank you for your dedication and talent, and thank you for being Filip - glad to find you ❤️
i also checked out long necked lutes along the silk road when i was looking more into turkish music and the saz. phenomenal book. beautiful image of how the idea of a musical instrument develops among various people across space and time and so cool to see its many ancestors and relatives. a lovely resource.
Yes, very good book to have!
Nice video. Thanks Filip.
Wow, very nice vid. Very in-depth and knowledgeable. TYFP!
Incredible instrument, and very nice video overview. I am a musician and multi-instrumentalist playing a lot of "world instruments", and the Saz is definitely on my "to do list" for learning. 😊
Thank you Philip for this wonderful and interesting show on the baglama
I feel like I owe you money now, amazing job explaining the history of this instrument thank you🙏🏽
Thank you ! I'm surprised how much I enjoy these series really fascinating.
Would love it if you get a chance to do a piece on the Udulele one day!
Interesting idea! Thanks!
An excellent explanation and video, well done my friend.
Filip, I just wanted to say that you are an inspiration on so many levels. I have purchased Climbing and Desert Wanderings. I would do more but am myself on a fixed income. I would like to say that I have watched many of your episodes of Let’s talk Religion. The wonderful reading you did of the City of Brass inspired me to write a ghazal. Thanks for sharing so much of yourself with us. I look forward to much more incite and creative works from you! Best Wishes!
It is humbling to read your very kind words! Thank you! Would love to hear that ghazal at some point!
@@FilipHolm Not sure if you use Skype or not but it is pretty much the only way I communicate anymore. I can’t stand what social media has become. If you do, let me know when you would be up for hearing the reading. Thank you for the comment. I am located in Connecticut USA. Regards!
Great!!!! 🇹🇷
The tanbur cannot be considered purely in the history of the saz. The Turks in Anatolia originate from Central Asia. And they are a nomadic society that brought their music with them when they came from there. Although they were influenced by surrounding cultures, Turkmens continued their old traditions. I have a friend who reinterprets a modern folk song with an ancient instrument. This ancient instrument is called kopuz or dombra, the ancestor of the saz. Horse rhythm is widely used in Turkish folk songs from Central Asia to Turkey. If you listen carefully, you can notice this rhythm. th-cam.com/video/ew5GPlBYmUM/w-d-xo.html
Thank you very much for this beautiful video!
Thanks for making this video. I had no idea about hte historyh of this instrument.
Thank you for your video
Saaz or Saz also means rhythmic. Naasaaz (the antonym) means unrhythmic, inharmonious or discordant. This meaning is in Sadi's Gulistan.
Very interesting! I don't know the original meaning of nasaaz. In urdu (which got the word from Persian which it got from Arabic), naasaaz is like "out of sorts" or like "disagreeing" (for example we say your health is nasaaz you're sick).
thank you so much, loved this video
I've got one of these bad boys, love it.
It's awesome!
@@FilipHolm The only thing that drives me nuts about it is that it doesn't have a soundhole and so my long right hand guitar fingernails are always hitting the wood and making a sound when I do fingerpicking... Not really the instrument's fault, just a problem I face and need to work hard to correct.
@@TheModernHermeticist Yeah the strings are pretty close to the wood so that happens easily!
you play the saz extremely well , kudos mate
Hey man... watching ur vdos from all ur channels... just love it wt u r doing ❤️
Just amazing work ❤️
I didn't hear it mentioned here, but a few modern players don't strike the strings with a wooden stick (I forget what its called) but fingerpick the strings instead. Multi-instrumentalist David Lindley, who passed away 3/3/23, played Saz and Oud fingerstyle, sometimes played Saz or Tambur with a violin bow, and had an electric Saz/Bouzouki he built from a Vox teardrop-shaped Bass Guitar body and a Bouzouki neck, as well as a custom-made electric Oud built by a guy named Najarian in California. Lindley's earliest musical interests were bluegrass banjo and violin, but he also studied Saz, Oud, Flamenco and Classical guitar, and he often played old English and American folk songs on Saz or Oud.
❤️🦋 Of course we knew how talented he is, not just in religion and philosophy, but music.
Thank you 💖
I know your point here is not bad, but I would like to add something. The Sassanid Tambur is not the only ancestor of the modern saz. The origin of the modern saz goes back to both the Sassanid Tambur and the Central Asian "kopuz". It seems that the saz differed significantly from the tambur after the Turks came to Anatolia. The issue here is entirely the cultural mixing that started with Turkish migrations.
Very interesting content, thanks for uploading.
Amazing playing 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Thanks!
Man i come from your other channel (lets talk religion), all your content are amazing. Keep up the good work ❤️
Beautiful instrument, beautifully played and very interesting history. What is that pick you are using?
It's the standard saz pick!
@@FilipHolmthank you, I never knew they existed until watching your video.
What was that beautiful music at the beginning of the video? 🎶
It's just an improvisation I did for the video 🙂 But thank you!
hi, thank you your beautiful intro, explation and video. can u share your "chord order in this intro song"@@FilipHolm
I am coming to Turkey for 2 weeks and all I want to do is to bring one of these (Baglama) home. I play the guitar and mandolin. Will be in Istanbul, Izmir, Cappadocia. Any suggestions on where to buy? It is my understanding it best to buy away from the Grand Bazaar.
Yes, definitely avoid the bazaars (when it comes to instruments). I know that Izmir has some excellent luthiers that make Saz/Baglama intruments. It depends on what your budget is. The best option is always to go directly to a luthier, but that is also pretty expensive.
A middle of the way option would be to find a dedicated music store in Istanbul or Izmir. I saw plenty of them in Istanbul when I was there. Try some instruments out, see which one you like, or ask someone at the store if they seem knowledgeable.
@@FilipHolm I will be in Istanbul and Izmir. Not sure what to expect as far as budget. I dont want something cheap but not crazy expensive either. I figure I can probably secure one for about 300 USD
@@RedMcc ankara is good
Ended up getting a great one in Istanbul
Wow! Du har både en underbar religionskanal och en faktiskt intressant musikkanal!
Tack! :)
Nice presentation! That's one of my favorite instruments.
thank you for sharing your art.
Please tell me, how do you study accurate texts from Sufism/Persian literature and the like in English? Most translations are, to say the least, very deviated from the original meaning. My husband is a farsi speaker and we are planning to translate some books that have yet to be translated in English, or that were poorly done so. Maybe you have a book you would like to read you haven't had the chance to yet, or some recommendations?:)
There are plenty of good traslations by competent scholars. You just need to know where to look. Are threre any poets you are thinking about?
Beautiful sound . Thank you.
Nice sounds great!
I don't know what is said in the video. (My English is not good and I did not understand the video.) But as a Turkish musician, I have to say this. Baglama (the word saz is used for all instruments) is an instrument of Central Asian origin. The ancestor of this instrument is the instrument called kopuz. Turkish tribes who migrated to Anatolia from Central Asia developed this instrument to play the music they heard in Anatolia, and it took its current form. Baglama is a Turkish instrument. If you said in the video that it was an instrument of another nation, this is historically incorrect. Yes, other peoples in Anatolia also made music with baglama, but this does not change the fact that baglama is a Turkish instrument. In addition, the music made by Turks in Anatolia is called TURKISH FOLK MUSIC. It's not Anatolian music. The tanbur instrument is a TURKISH ART MUSIC instrument and the history of this instrument dates back to the Sumerian civilization, but it was the Turks who made it what it is today. It is mentioned as "Tanbur-i Türki" in historical sources. In other words, baglama is a Turkish instrument used in another genre today, and tanbur is an instrument used in Ottoman-Turkish music. These instruments are not Kurdish or Persian instruments.
İ am turkish alevi what i know ancestor of saz is kopuz it touches my soul more than any other instrument
Thank you for this video. I’m looking to buy a quality Saz online. Can you recommend reputable fabricators/music instrument shop?
I never knew you played this! In fact for the past two weeks I've been listening to this type of music, and wondering what this instrument is called! And now, one of my top channels is covering it! Nice
Yes, this family of instruments is great, is it? What a pitty the Ottomans didn't own Zoom recording devices yet.... Would be great having original records. Oops, impossable.
Hello, what us the name of the beautiful piece you play in the beginning?
Would love a tutorial on how to play this by you!
that would be nice.
To my knowledge (research) saz was used for a very long time for the instrument as it's general name. The name baglama was assigned to the way of playing the saz. More like a guitar vertical and horizontal on the fretboard. Baglama, to connect (the 3 string groups in melody as in chords). The long version was played more or even exclusively linear (over a single string), which was called karaduzen. Freely translated to freestyle. The baglama style was mainly developed by Alawi masters who did play a 3 string small dede saz.
Glad you finally mentioned "Kurdish People " . Not many people acknowledge us .
I agree, he even said “Kurdistan” 🙏🏽
I acknowledge you and your pain friends
@@shahapalani5820kurdistan does not exist
Gavura acıtasyon yapmayın.
kurdistan does not exist😅😢😂😂😂😂
Nice Video. 👍
Wow. Never heard that kind of music before
great to know you r a musician too... you should have a Rabab... my favourite string instrument.
Love the Rabab!
I've always wondered about string gauges for this, the one I own is a long neck lol
Beautiful music, thanks! 😀
@Filip Holm, The Iranian name for the Saz is Divan. indeed Baglama is what they call it in Turkey and its very beloved there. Anyway amazing Video and thanks! ive just discovered your channel and as an Iranian I would like to help and collaborate with you.
Very good source of information. Sub! ;)
Thank you !!! impressive. 💫
Beatiful insight. I'm wondering, is Saz totally different from Buzuk or is it just another name from a different language
The Buzuq is a very closely related instrument, but somewhat different!
Beautiful very soothing sound. Did you use an amp for the recording or is it acoustic? Do you know who sellers these in the US?
I also recommend Cümbüş as well, it is a kind of banjo style of oud which created in close history.
That is a really cool instrument too!
@@FilipHolm I know you from "Let's talk religion" channel. Here is quite interesting as well.
What about kopuz, cura, üçtelli?
Great vid. So these 15 frets are fixed or it’s possible to nudge them on the neck?? What are they? Wires, ropes? Thnx!❤
Yes, you can move them around. They can be made from different materials and are tied to the neck
The performance from Dilovan was amazing.
I know! He is great!
I think saying that "baglama derived from tanbur" is very controversial. There's modern tanbur and it's different. We gotta talk about Central Asian instrument "Kopuz - Komuz" . There's an instrument called "dutar" which is common in and around Iran. And the dutar is very similar to baglama and to the kopuz. I personally think that baglama derived from an instrument like kopuz. And it was a simpler version of the dutar. It turned into something like dutar and then turned into the modern baglama.
The thanpura or thambira in India is only used for pitch perfection,as a background for vocalists.
The saz discussed in the historical Dede Korkut epic is the Azerbaijani saz. The saz with the best quality sound is the Azerbaijani saz
Uzaktan yakindan ilgisi yok
@@Tengrinin_Kirbaci Biz Sazın (Bağlamanın) Şah Ismayılın sarayında Azərbaycanlı Qızılbaş Türkmen Ozanlar olan Aşıq Miskin Abdal ,Aşıq Dirili Qurbani ve başqaları terefinden Qopuzdan tekminleşdirildiyine inanırıq.
Hi great video !
Do you know by any chance where / how i can find a 7 string cura ?
Saw such a baglama in a video of özgür baba but actually nowhere in the internet to buy..
dest xosh :)
Do you know where i can get the long necked bağlama? I have always loved these instruments but never really know where to buy them.
What other tunings are common for the short version? Thank you for a wonderful channel
Man, where did you study music? I haven't heard much saz, but I do recognise quality. And okay, you are modest, there are experts too. I guess the Turkish and Kurdish players will appreciate your trials playing saz, too. Do they? Did you get thank you's? Well, THANK YOU!
Hi Filip. Saz means instrument, and the name of the instrument you are introducing in your video is baglama.
I cover this topic in the video.
Can you do a few videos teaching some saz?
I could! Although I don't know if I'm necessarily qualified.
@@FilipHolm well whatever you do know. I can find hardly anything for a long necked saz and you know more than most of us. Also it's really funny how we picked up the same instruments, i didn't know you played instruments until a year after watching your religion channel :)
@@FilipHolm Please please do! there are little to none english lessons on TH-cam. I own a saz since last summer, but its very difficult to learn without understanding turkish. Also everybody uses a different tuning, its very confusing for a beginner, even if you play other stringed instruments.
So cool.
Your great 👍
Iranian instrument ❤❤❤
Youre video was interesting
As a oud and a saz player
I just need to point out that you forgot a few things
Even though this instrument was originated in iran and turkey
Its in some arab countries as well its called bozoq بزق or arabic bozoq which i think came from the greek word bozoki it has kind of a similar sound to the saz and similar techniques but it has a different tuning which is C G C i think mostly in syria and lebanon..
in iraq they play the same saz mostly northern iraq mosel kerkuk and kurdistan region
Thank you so much for this. I have been enamored by the sound of the saz since I first heard it, and I would love to get one and learn how to play. If possible, could you give me some hints on how to go about that? Also, for a beginner, long neck or short neck?
It's always good if you have a local luthier or seller, so that you can try them out yourself. Otherwise, there are a few reputable sellers online, like Sala Muzik or some Turkish ones.
People often say that it's better to start with a short neck Saz, because it is easier to play due to the shoter scale. But I would say your preference really matters more. Do you want the fuller, bassier sound? Then go with a long-necked one.
Hey, thank you fot the nice introduction. I wanted to ask you what is the name od the Saz you are playing here and which internet store you recommend for buying one. Thank you!
Please can you play the intro music more or give a link to it! Big fan of yours
The intro music to this video?
Yes it's fantastic. Captivating
@@amjadirfan2622 Thank you! It's just me improvising, so not a song per se 🙂
@@FilipHolm wow just wow. Such an amazing man you are. I never intend to write comments on any platform but I guess real quality and art can attract comments and praise from any one. I wish you could give out at least a 5 minute clip of that music. ❤️👌
@@amjadirfan2622 Here you go: th-cam.com/video/2RXABjO1RSg/w-d-xo.html
🙂
Thanks, and please let this one run the 35:39 this time. 😄 You also offer us historic info with your playing this is great.
I’m new to learning this instrament, mine came in A#, F, C tuning, is this okay?
Does the song you're playing from 0:50-1:50 have a name?
Hello Filip, nice vid. I'm just wondering which one do u feel is the sadder and deeper long or short neck?
I don't know! I guess I would assoicate the deeper, darker tone with "sadness", so maybe the longer necked one?
this is Nice i love saz you good men hellal olsun
Thanx!! ❤❤
So, why do they only put the quarter-tone extra frets only in certain places? Does this mean only some quarter tones are used and others are not? Does this also limit the instrument to a particular key or set of keys?