Necdet Yasar (read Turkish version here)
Necdet Yasar
Necdet Yasar is an important artist who seeks the depths of Ottoman classical music on the thin strings of the tanbur and carries the rooted heritage of Turkish music to world academies. The master, born in 1930 in the Nizip district of Gaziantep, is one of the rare names who completely turned his path to the tanbur after being influenced by a Mesut Cemil performance during his youth, when he began playing the bağlama. This transformation materialized with special right and left hand techniques he developed to deepen the sound character of an instrument known for its quietness. Yasar, known as the "Poet of the Tanbur," adorns the distinguished pages of Turkish music history with his unique improvisation ability and this technical mastery.
The artist's career is not limited to stage performances alone. The work he initiated at Istanbul Radio and continued for three decades in the Turkish Classical Music Choir under Mesut Cemil's management served as an important bridge for the generation after him. He brought this experience not only within Turkey but also to the academic world; Yasar, who served as a guest artist at Washington University Ethnomusicology Program in the 1970s and 80s, explained the Ottoman classical music makam system from an international perspective. Serving as the director of the Istanbul State Turkish Music Ensemble, which he founded in 1988, until 1995 is also a continuation of this musical leadership.
Honored with the title of Distinguished National Artist, Necdet Yasar's legacy is a living part of a deep art network that includes names such as Tanburu Cemil Bey, Munir Nurettin Selçuk, and Yorgo Bacanos. Sources stating that the artist was specified as a "living master" in 2002 and that his death date is not confirmed remind us that his musical journey leaves a trace beyond time and reaches us today. His works, meeting the listener through Kalan Music publications and radio recordings, are both a starting point and a guide to deepen for Turkish music listeners.
Biography
Necdet Yasar, born in Nizip near Gaziantep in 1930, is one of the well-known tanbur virtuosos and music leaders of Turkish music history. The artist's musical journey dates back to the years when he first began playing the bağlama; however, the deep influence he received from a performance by Mesut Cemil Bey turned him towards the tanbur. Yasar, who developed his own distinct right and left hand techniques to obtain a thicker and deeper sound on the relatively quiet instrument of the tanbur, is known for this technical mastery. Described in sources as the "poet of the tanbur," the artist left a mark on the music world especially with his unique ability in taksim (improvisation).
During his university student period, Yasar joined the state-owned Istanbul Radio and had the honor of performing for exactly 30 years in the Turkish Classical Music Choir under Mesut Cemil's management. In this process, he took part in a wide range including Turkish Classical Music, Ottoman Palace Music, Sufi Music, World Music, and Jazz, outlining a multifaceted artist profile. Necdet Yasar contributed not only to stage and studio works but also to the academic world. He served as a guest artist at Washington University Ethnomusicology Program between 1972-73 and 1980-81 and gave lectures on the Ottoman classical music makam system here.
In order to sustain his artistic legacy, he founded the Istanbul State Turkish Music Ensemble in 1988 and managed the directorship of this ensemble until he retired in 1995. In the artist's discography, the album "Necdet Yasar" (Kalan CD 102) published with the Kalan Music label in 1998 stands out. The Suzidil Saz Semaisi, with composers Sedat Öztoprak and Fahri Kopuz, is among the works he represents. It is known that the artist was honored with the title of "Distinguished National Artist". There is no certain information regarding the artist's death date in sources, and it is noted that the artist was still defined as a "living master" in 2002. Filmography information is not available in current sources.
Style
Necdet Yasar’s musical stance is shaped around the effort to deepen the sound world of the Turkish music instrumental tradition, primarily the tanbur. The artist, who turned to the tanbur after being influenced by a performance of Mesut Cemil following his start with the bağlama, embarked on a special technique search to overcome the relative quietness of this instrument. Thanks to the right and left hand techniques he developed, he achieved an unexpected thickness and intensity via the tanbur; he created a style that expanded the instrument's natural sound character. This technical integrity has become one of the most determining factors in the sound world of Yasar’s recordings.
The artist's musical personality is built upon a unique taksim (improvisation) ability reflected in his description as the "poet of the tanbur." The interpretation style highlighting technical mastery covers a wide repertoire where Ottoman palace music, Turkish classical music, and Sufi music traditions are processed together. Yasar’s musical universe offers a perspective that brings an academic viewpoint to the makam system, going beyond just being a performer. His lectures on Ottoman classical music at Washington University Ethnomusicology Program reinforced his rigor in musical analysis and interpretation.
Yasar’s music serves as a bridge between his disciplined choir background and the vision in the Istanbul State Turkish Music Ensemble he founded. The album "Necdet Yasar" published in 1998 and works such as Suzidil Saz Semaisi are important references of this artistic stance recorded. When appearing before the listener, this style that adds a poetic depth to the instrument beyond technical perfection positions him among the prominent masters of Turkish music history. While the artist's musical identity is defined in sources through technical searches and taksim ability, it is seen that his emotional world is expressed through this technical depth.
Songs and Works
Recordings reflecting Necdet Yasar's tanbur virtuosity are limited in current reliable sources. The most basic reference point in the artist's discography is the album "Necdet Yasar" (Kalan CD 102) published with the Kalan Music label in 1998. This recording is important in that it presents his taksim and performance techniques known as the "poet of the tanbur" to the listener. Also, cited as the only representative work in sources, Suzidil Saz Semaisi stands out with composers Sedat Öztoprak and Fahri Kopuz.
Although there are numerous performances realized throughout the artist's career at Istanbul Radio and Washington University, a detailed work list or comprehensive discography source does not exist. Although the artist being called a "living master" in 2002 indicates that his musical legacy might have a wider archive, only this album and work details appear in reliable sources. Therefore, for those wishing to follow Necdet Yasar's performances, said Kalan recording and Suzidil Saz Semaisi remain in the records as limited but most reliable work.
Context
Necdet Yasar is considered one of the most competent tanbur craftsmen of 20th-century Turkish music history. Born in 1930 in the Nizip district of Gaziantep, the artist began his music career by joining the state-owned Istanbul Radio while he was a university student and thus took his place among the important names who left their mark on the radio period of Turkish Classical Music. Performing for approximately 30 years in the Turkish Classical Music Choir under Mesut Cemil's management made Yasar one of the most solid technique and interpretation examples of the period and placed him in a key figure position in preserving the music heritage.
The artist's career was not limited to stage performance alone, but also played a key role in transferring Turkish music to the theoretical and academic field. Serving as a guest artist at Washington University Ethnomusicology Program between 1972-73 and 1980-81 and giving lectures on the Ottoman classical music makam system is an important milestone for the promotion of music in international academic circles. Returning to local stages, he led the protection of musical heritage at the foundation level with the Istanbul State Turkish Music Ensemble he founded in 1988 and continued as the director of this ensemble until 1995 when he retired.
Although he started playing bağlama in his performing life, Yasar, who turned to tanbur after being influenced by a Mesut Cemil performance, is known for the special right and left hand techniques he developed to deepen the sound character of this relatively quiet instrument. The artist, frequently mentioned in sources as the "poet of the tanbur," has a separate place in the Turkish music performing tradition especially with his unique improvisation ability in the taksim area. Honored with the Distinguished National Artist award, Yasar's death date is not definitely available in sources, but it is stated that he was still a living master in 2002 records. In this respect, Yasar is positioned as a music leader who gained experience in different areas such as Ottoman Palace Music, Sufi Music, and World Music, and left deep traces in Turkish music history with institutional structures and academic works.
Lasting Legacy
Necdet Yasar is engraved in Turkish music history as the "poet of the tanbur" and left a deep mark with his identity as an educator and administrator along with his performer identity. The artist, who gave a thicker and richer sound character to the tanbur, known for its relative quietness, thanks to special right and left hand technique, is accepted to have taken the improvisation (taksim) competence of this instrument to a new level. In the immense 30-year process he began his performing life in the Istanbul Radio Turkish Classical Music Choir, he laid the foundation for a generation by being part of the crew under Mesut Cemil's management, and became one of the rare names transferring the Ottoman classical music makam system to the academic world with his guest artist period at Washington University.
The most concrete aspect of his legacy is the Istanbul State Turkish Music Ensemble he founded in 1988; this institution, whose directorship he carried out until 1995, undertook the mission of preserving and keeping the traditional repertoire alive. The artist's "Necdet Yasar" album published with the Kalan Music label in 1998 has taken its place in the listener's memory as one of the fundamental documents recording the technical and artistic stance of this mastery period. Yasar's being called a "living master" in 2002 records and being honored with the "Distinguished National Artist" title is also an officially reflected response of this cultural contribution. The career line extending from Nizip to Washington University Ethnomusicology Program constitutes the legacy of a music leader who integrates local origins with universal music studies. Despite no certain information about the death date, he maintains his place in Turkish Classical Music memory through his works and ensembles he founded.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When and with which instruments did Necdet Yasar start his music career? Necdet Yasar was born in 1930 in the Nizip district of Gaziantep. He began playing the bağlama in his youth but completely turned his path to the tanbur with the deep influence he received from a performance by Mesut Cemil.
2. How is the artist's tanbur-specific performance technique and style described? Yasar developed his own distinct right and left hand techniques to overcome the relative quietness of the tanbur. The artist, who gives unexpected thickness and intensity to the instrument with these techniques, is called the "poet of the tanbur" and is known especially for his taksim (improvisation) ability.
3. What are the duties at Istanbul Radio and Washington University? The artist joined the Istanbul Radio Turkish Classical Music Choir as a university student and served for approximately 30 years under the management of Mesut Cemil. Additionally, between 1972-73 and 1980-81, he served as a guest artist at Washington University Ethnomusicology Program and gave lectures on the Ottoman classical music makam system.
4. Is there information about the ensemble founded by Necdet Yasar and management history? The artist founded the Istanbul State Turkish Music Ensemble in 1988. Yasar managed the directorship of this ensemble until he retired in 1995 and undertook the mission of preserving the traditional repertoire.
5. What do Yasar's recorded works and discography cover? The album "Necdet Yasar" (Kalan CD 102) published with the Kalan Music label in 1998 is the basic reference source. It also includes works such as Suzidil Saz Semaisi with composers Sedat Öztoprak and Fahri Kopuz. However, a detailed work list or comprehensive discography source is not available in current reliable sources.
6. What is known about the artist's living status, death date, and awards? The artist was honored with the "Distinguished National Artist" title. However, there is no certain information regarding the artist's death date in sources, and 2002 records state he was still a "living master". Filmography information is also not available in current sources.