We are all used to listening to the mesmerising sound of the santoor, an instrument made famous by the late Shiv Kumar Sharma, but have you heard of the Turkish Qanun, which is similar to the Santoor?

If you want to experience the enchanting Qanun music at its best, you should listen to the music played by Ahmet Baran who is a genius on the Qanun. From his own compositions, classical pieces to everyone’s favorites like Luis Fonsi’s Despacito, Game of Thrones, Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters, Queen’s We Will Rock You, George Michael’s Careless Whisper, The Pink Panther, Baran will leave you spellbound. Who knows you may just fall in love with his Arab music too. 

The maestro was in Mumbai this May at the Nehru Centre, Mumbai and performed on 10^th May 2024. He was one of the many galaxy of musicians performing at the second edition of Banyan Tree’s Shivji – The Journey Continues…a musical ode to Padma Vibhushan Pt.  Shivkumar Sharma. 

In an email interview, Verus Ferreira unravels Baran’s extensive journey of music from his initial entry into the glamourous world of music to receiving two legions of honour, one from the Queen of Denmark Margrethe II and the other from the President of Kazakstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, besideshaving played for the Queen of England, the Russian President, the Pope to the King of Norway.

How did the collaboration with Rahul Sharma happen?

I received an invitation from Banyan Tree, a company that organized successful organizations for the G20 Summit. Again, thanks to my dear friend Mahesh Babu, this pleasant collaboration could take place.

How excited were you to be playing with santoor maestro Rahul Santoor?

Very excited. I had the chance to meet many musicians in my previous India concerts. Tonality and rhythm structure fascinate me a lot. We shaped similar tones with cultural reflections. Instantaneous tone changes in the qanun are more practical than the santoor, but the richness of both is completely different. It was a magnificent musical collaboration.

Ahmet, can you share with us your growing up days and how you began to take an interest in music?

I started to do music in TRT (Turkish Radio and Television Corporation) children’s choir. When I was 16, I started to work as a contract artist in TRT. My family supported me on my path to become a musician. I am grateful for the support because now I earn my living by doing the job I fell in love with.

​How did you come across the instrument the Qanun, that would make you famous one day?

When I first played the qanun, I felt like there was no limit to what I could share with my instrument. I dreamed of bringing it closer to all genres of music. The work I realize today is a result of the dreams I had then. My first teacher was Deniz Göktaş from Turkey. His personality and approach to music impressed me greatly. We started working at Ankara State Radio. After I became a qanun student, I worked day and night, almost without sleeping. I went to my first concert after 4 months and 6 months later, I became a soloist in the Symphony Orchestra. I started working professionally on State television TRT when I was 16 years old. I have been both the qanun artist and the artistic director of the Mersin State Classical Turkish Music Choir of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism since 2006.

​Tell us what the Qanun is all about, from the number of strings, how it’s played and is it easy to learn the instrument?

Since the Qanun instrument has frets like a guitar or a piano, it is easy to learn. However, it is very difficult to control the pegs, which offer 9 more options between each full sound, and to ensure the coordination between the brain and the hand. Normally, the Qanun is played by placing the plectrums on your index finger. I play with my own 10-finger technique using all my fingers. As with every instrument, it takes a lifetime of dedication to reach virtuoso level.

What is the Turkish Qanun?

The Turkish Qanun is a flat, trapezoidal-shaped instrument. It has 26 courses of strings, with about 3 strings per course. This gives a total of 78 strings made from nylon, gut, or metal. Turkish Qanuns are considerably smaller than Arabic Qanuns. However, what the Turkish Qanun loses in size, it makes up for in style and sound, besides they are more finely crafted, have more chords, and produce better sounds. Qanuns are made with wood, and they have a soundboard that is partly wood and partly animal or fish skin. It mostly measures about 100cm long, about 60cm wide, and between 4 to 8 centimeters in height.

​Do you have any music albums recorded with the Qanun?

I have five albums, names of İki Kelime, Kanun Namına, Karışık Kaset, Evde Kalmış Şarkılar and Müzik Atlası instrumental works, performing arts, series, commercials, computer games and short film music.In 2016, I released the album Kanun Namına and it was awarded full marks by music critics by taking place on the bestseller charts. The importance of my last album, Müzik Atlası, is that it is a live concert album. My albums can be listened to on all digital platforms, especially Spotify.

Are there are different types of Qanun and sizes available.

We have smaller ones made for our little students. The instrument I use is my own design, the Ahmet Baran signature series is on sale all over the world. The octave and peg structure of my instrument are different from others.

​The name Qanun comes from the Arabic word Qanun, which means "law" or "rule". Are there any rules that you need to know about the Qanun?

Just as qanun means rule, it is accepted that it derives from the Latin word Qanon, meaning polyphony. If you are looking for music that calls to love, you will embrace it with love and touch it with love. When you establish such a bond and achieve surrender, your instrument surrenders itself to you. It requires a pure spirit, a sincere dialogue free of ambition.

​What are the challenges you have faced in playing the Qanun?

I don't face difficulties while playing my instrument. It is an integral part of me, like my heart. Qanun is a magical music box that makes a hit with the audience, both by its looks and sound. It is open to many different kinds of music. It has rich possibilities. It is an important reference instrument also called the Piano of Turkish Music.

​What is your biggest musical achievement since the start of your musical career?

I have given more than a thousand concerts on six continents. I make world music and continue to give concerts with many virtuoso artists in the countries I visit. My concerts at the Sydney Opera House, Capitoline Museum Rome, at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris and G20 opening concert in Varanasi, India sparked a strong impression in the world press. On 23^rd April, the national sovereignty and children's day that our country's greatest leader of all time, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, presented to all the children of the world, dedicated to the founding of our republic, I conducted a concert with 1923 children, enthusiastically, with the participation of tens of thousands of people, which received great coverage and repercussions in the press. This was one of the most meaningful and biggest concerts of my recent career.

​ In your address to TEDxReset in 2019, you played music of Lionel Richie and the song Ghostbusters. Who are your international music inspirations?

Some of the important musicians I admire are Paco De Lucia, Chick Correa, Quincy Jones, Pt Ravi Shankar, Zakir Hussain.

What new projects or music are you working on presently?

I continue to perform concerts in my country and also abroad. Also I am the founder of a big charity organization. Social responsibility projects are my priority. I attend these concerts regularly. I have a qanun camp in the summer that I hold once a year for my qanun students from all over the World.

You have played for the Queen of England to the Russian President, the Pope to the King of Norway. Who else have you played for that we don’t know?

I presented Turkish music to fifty-five statesmen. I also had the chance to give a concert to many distinguished Indian statesmen at the G20 summit held in Varanasi, India this year.

Photos: Courtesy of the Artist

Interviewed by Verus Ferreira