Instrument · Strings
Saz / Bağlama
Turkish: saz / bağlama
A long-necked fretted lute with a pear-shaped body and metal strings. Movable or tied frets allow pitch organization suited to Turkish modal music.
Turkey
Origin
Long-necked lutes have existed across Anatolia and neighboring regions for centuries. In modern Turkey, saz is a broad term while bağlama commonly refers to the best-known member of the family. The instrument is used to accompany songs, dances and ritual traditions.
Role in the dance
It appears more often in Turkish folk and regional music than in classical Egyptian Raqs Sharqi. For an oriental dancer performing Turkish repertoire, it immediately changes the musical geography of a piece.
Music
Rhythms it plays
Chiftetelli
8/4Slow versions provide large spaces between accents and are ideal for expressive improvisation, veil, floor-level work and instrumental taqsim. Faster variants have a much lighter social-dance feeling. MaqamWorld identifies it as a Turkish usul that became established in Arabic music.
Malfuf
2/4A fast, rolling rhythm often heard at the beginning or end of an oriental routine. Excellent for travelling steps, entrances, exits, veil entrances and fast transitions. Its accent structure has a characteristic 3+3+2 feeling.