Born in 1949 in Tunceli/Dersim province of eastern Turkey, Mansur Bildik received his first saz lessons as a child from his father, a regionally well-respected musician. Due to his family’s difficult financial situation, he wasn’t able to finish middle school; however, he never strayed from his beloved musical education, which he pursued with discipline from childhood onwards.

In 1965 he began formal education in saz and folk music at the Adana People’s House (Halk Evi). Upon his teacher Ahmet Aydın’s recommendation he moved to Istanbul, taking his place alongside other professional musicians – an important step in his career. During the early 1970s, he developed his repertoire of Turkish folk songs under master musicians at Turkish Radio Television (TRT) Izmir, including Mustafa Hoşsu, Talip Özkan, Yılmaz İpek, Durmuş Yazıcıoğlu, Hamit Çine and Ahmet Günday.

About the Book

Saz/Bağlama is the main instrument of Anatolian music and generally can be found from the Middle East up to the Balkans. This book is intended to help introduce all interested persons – whatever their background – to this stringed instrument in the easiest and quickest way possible. Since there is more to playing saz/bağlama than just faithfully executing the music as written, the book includes comprehensive background information in three languages (German/Turkish/English), providing an introduction to the history and culture of the instrument and its specific characteristics.  The musical part begins with the simplest exercises and moves on to more advanced pieces, gradually revealing the asymmetrical rhythms characteristic for oriental music, as well as the microtonal pitches unfamiliar to the western ear.  The book cannot and should not replace personal instruction, but can remove barriers, provide important information and serve as teaching material.