An examination of the cultural and organological characteristics of the Dede Bağlama

Abstract

This study aims to examine the cultural aspects, construction, and technical features of the Dede Bağlama, one of the types of bağlama. The Dede Bağlama is an important element in the Alevi culture in Turkey. The study holds significant cultural and organological value. A qualitative research method, specifically a case study and document analysis, was employed. An interview was conducted with a master Dede Bağlama maker as part of the expert opinion process. The study revealed that there are two types of Dede Bağlama: one with three groups of strings, each string having a religious significance (re-sol-la), tuned in a bağlama arrangement, with body lengths ranging from 30 to 42 cm. It was also found that the three-stringed Dede Bağlama has two subtypes based on long-necked and short-necked forms, and that the types of wood materials used in construction were similar, though the sizes varied. The general shape of the body was similar, typically using carved, axed, half-pear, and leaf-shaped designs, with both carved and leaf-shaped forms tending to be rounder than axed forms. The same types of wood were used for the soundboard (top), and the number of tuning pegs varied depending on the number of strings, while the number of frets remained mostly the same, with the belief that the 12 frets represented the 12 imams in Alevi-Bektashi faith. The sound range was observed to be between 1.5 and 2 octaves. While some Dede Bağlamas did not have sound (resonance) holes, others had openings in similar locations but of varying sizes. There were two types of bridges, and common lacquers used in bağlama construction were applied. Future research could examine examples of Dede Bağlama from different regions and gather opinions from other masters. Additionally, studies on the acoustic properties of the Dede Bağlama are recommended.