Saz: description of the instrument, structure, manufacture, history, how to play, use

Among the musical instruments originating from the East, the saz occupies an important position. Its varieties are found in almost all Asian countries – Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Iran, Afghanistan. In Russia, the eastern guest is present in the culture of the Tatars, Bashkirs.

What is saz

The name of the instrument comes from the Persian language. It was the Persian people, most likely, that was the manufacturer of the first model. The creator remained unknown, saz is considered a folk invention.

Today “saz” is a collective name for a whole group of instruments that have similar features:

• pear-shaped voluminous body;
• long straight neck;
• a head equipped with frets;
• different number of strings.

The instrument is related to the lute and belongs to the tambour family. The range of modern models is approximately 2 octaves. The sound is gentle, ringing, pleasant.

Structure

The structure is quite simple, practically unchanged over the centuries of existence of this stringed instrument:

• Chassis. Wooden, deep, pear-shaped, with a flat front and a convex back.
• Neck (neck). A part extending upwards from the body, flat or rounded. Strings are strung along it. The number of strings varies, depending on the type of instrument: Armenian is equipped with 6-8 strings, Turkish saz – 6-7 strings, Dagestan – 2 strings. There are models with 11 strings, 4 strings.
• Head. Tightly adjacent to the neck. The front part is equipped with frets that serve to tune the instrument. The number of frets varies: there are variants with 10, 13, 18 frets.

Production

The production process is not easy, extremely laborious. Each detail requires the use of different types of wood. The variability of wood makes it possible to achieve the perfect sound, to get a real instrument that corresponds to the ancient oriental traditions.

Masters use walnut wood, mulberry wood. The material is thoroughly dried beforehand, the presence of moisture is unacceptable. The pear-shaped body is given less often by grooving, more often by gluing, connecting individual parts. It takes an odd number of identical rivets (usually 9 are taken) to get the desired shape, size of the case.

A neck is mounted to the narrow side of the body. A head is put on the neck, to which the frets are screwed. It remains to string the strings – now the instrument is ready to sound fully.

History of the tool

Ancient Persia is considered to be the homeland. A similar instrument called tanbur was described by the medieval musician Abdulgadir Maragi in the XNUMXth century. The oriental instrument began to resemble the modern form of saz in the XNUMXth century – this is the conclusion made in his studies by the Azerbaijani art connoisseur Mejun Karimov.

Saz is one of the oldest instruments of the Turkic peoples. It was used to accompany singers who narrated historical events, performed love songs, ballads.

The production of vintage models was an extremely lengthy business. Trying to bring the tree into proper shape, the material was dried for several years.

The Azerbaijani saz was the most widespread. For this people, it has become an indispensable attribute of ashugs – folk singers, storytellers who accompanied singing, stories about the exploits of heroes with the sweet sounds of music.

The first saz models were small in size, had 2-3 strings made of silk threads, horsehair. Subsequently, the model increased in size: the body, neck lengthened, the number of frets and strings increased. Any nationality sought to “adjust” the design to the performance of their own musical works. Various parts were flattened, stretched, shortened, supplied with additional details. Today there are many varieties of this tool.

The Tatar Saz is presented to the attention of tourists in the Museum of the History and Culture of the Crimean Tatars (Simferopol city). The old model dates from the XNUMXth century.

How to play the saz

String varieties are played in 2 ways:

• using the fingers of both hands;
• using, in addition to hands, special devices.

Professional musicians produce sound with a plectrum (pick) made of special wood species. Plucking the strings with a plectrum allows you to play the tremolo technique. There are plectrums made from cherry wood.

So that the performer does not get tired of using his hand, the body was equipped with a restraining strap: thrown over the shoulder, it makes it easy to hold the structure in the chest area. The musician feels freedom, fully focuses on the process of playing.

Using

Medieval musicians used saz almost everywhere:

• they raised the military spirit of the army, waiting for battle;
• entertained guests at weddings, celebrations, holidays;
• accompanied poetry, legends of street musicians;
• he was an indispensable companion of the shepherds, did not let them get bored during the performance of duties.

Today it is an indispensable member of orchestras, ensembles performing folk music: Azerbaijani, Armenian, Tatar. Perfectly combined with the flute, wind instruments, it is able to complement the main melody or solo. Its technical, artistic capabilities are capable of conveying any range of feelings, which is why many oriental composers write music for the sweet-voiced saz.