The Ottoman Tanbur: The Long-Necked Lute of Ottoman Art Music

The Ottoman Tanbûr is a book that provides a detailed study of the history, construction, and playing technique of the long-necked lute-like instrument. It explores the political and cultural-historical conditions that contributed to the development of Ottoman Art music in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and the central place given to the tanbûr. The book also discusses the revival of Ottoman art music since the 1990s, which resulted in a rehabilitation of the Ottoman tanbûr.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 168 pages
Publication date: 09 June 2022
Publisher: Archaeopress

The Ottoman Tanbûr is a comprehensive exploration of the history, musical significance, construction, and playing techniques of this unique lute-like instrument. Tanbûrs find their place in various artistic traditions along the Silk Road and beyond, including Sufi, folk, and Ottoman art music. In Turkey, the term "tanbûr" primarily refers to the long-necked tanbûr associated with Ottoman art music. Despite its importance, the origins and early development of the Ottoman tanbûr remain somewhat enigmatic due to the scarcity of literary and iconographical sources. Well-preserved examples of this instrument are rare, making it a valuable resource for scholars and music enthusiasts alike.

The book delves into the political and cultural-historical factors that shaped the development of a distinct Ottoman Art music (Osmanlı sanat mûsîkîsi) during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It highlights the central role of the tanbûr in this musical tradition. However, Ottoman art music and the tanbûr faced official neglect and even rejection after the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923. This situation began to change with the foundation of the first Turkish music conservatory in 1975 at the Istanbul Teknik Üniversitesi (ITÜ). Since the 1990s, there has been a revival of Ottoman art music, which has led to the rehabilitation of Ottoman art music and the resurgence of the tanbûr, which had been considered endangered.

The Ottoman Tanbûr is a testament to the rich musical heritage of the Ottoman Empire and its influence on the world of music. Its detailed study and revival efforts contribute to our understanding and appreciation of this unique instrument and its role in the cultural landscape of the region.

Weight: 456g
Dimension: 175 x 244 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803271064