Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

German filmmakers are shooting a documentary film about Azerbaijani Saz, a stringed musical instrument, TV/production advisor of the film in Azerbaijan Naiba Tural said.

The 90-minute film is being shot as part of an international project about the history, traditions and stages of development of the ancient instrument and its significance in the contemporary music culture in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Iran, Iraq, and Greece.

The production team includes prominent German filmmakers from Anthro-Media Volker Barth and C. Cay Wesnigk and Bertrand Glosset (Turkey, "Karavan film").

The main theme of the film comes from Stephan Talneau (BBC, Canal +, ARTE, Diskovery Channel, TF 1) who has always been involved in the realm between image and sound and Petra Nachtmanova, a historian who acts in the film as a researcher on history and traditions of Saz in different countries.

The film shows a route of research stretching from Berlin to the Balkans, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Iran.

One part of the film that is being shot in Azerbaijan involves famous Azerbaijani Ashugs - folk singers and Saz performers Ahliman, Adalat, Mubariz and others.

The film is the second grand work of Naiba Tural. The first work of Tural was a music documentary on Jazz Mugham in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan's part is being shot with the support of Azerbaijan's Students Network.

The stringed musical instrument, Saz is played solo and in ensembles. The classical music for Saz, Azerbaijani Mugham, is a unique form of vocal and instrumental folk music tradition.

Saz is one of the symbols of the Turkic world. The instrument got its final shape in the 16th century.

Saz is sounded mainly with plectrum made of cork of cherry tree. In most cases, the arm and sides body of Saz are adorned with pearls.

Body of Saz is made of selected kinds of mulberry tree, and its arm is made of walnut wood.

Azerbaijani Saz differs from Saz and similar instruments spread among other Turkic-speaking peoples in terms of its musical technique, sound acoustics with the undeniable advantages. In Azerbaijan, Saz is distinguished by its size and strings.