Workshop Dr. Ögr. Üyesi Erhan Uslu (2)

The Centrale organizes the 5th edition of the Ghent Bağlama Festival in collaboration with the Istanbul Conservatory (ITÜ or Istanbul Teknik Üniversitesi). The program includes concerts and workshops with the Turkish long-necked lute (the bağlama or saz) as the common thread.

The bağlama, also often called 'saz', is an ancient string instrument from the lute family. The name bağlama denotes the instrument, while the better known name saz simply means stringed instrument.

The bağlama is one of the most popular instruments in Turkey's traditional folk scene. No folk dance from Anatolia or folk song from the rich Alevi tradition without the graceful 'long-necked lute', as the instrument is also called. The instrument has 'bound' with wires ('baglamak' means 'to bind') frets that can be moved according to the scale in which the music is played. The 'saz' can be played with both a pick and the fingers.