Home Page

Yorgo Bacanos is considered the founder of the modern school of Turkish ud playing. His technical innovations made him one of the most important instrumentalists in Turkey.

Yorgo Bacanos was born in Silivri, a small town near Istanbul in 1900, and died in 1977. He was from a Greek-Gypsy musician family. Yorgo started to take lessons from his father, and from other Armenian musicians. At the age twelve, he made his debut in music as a performer in fasil concerts. He became a well-known ud player within a few years. Yorgo performed music in the Istanbul Radio for fifty year (1927-1977). Between 1953-1960, he was also member of Turkish Musical Ensemble of Istanbul Conservatory of Traditional Music conducted by Munir Selcuk (information summarized from CD's program notes).

"1900-1977" was first released in 1997 by Kalan Records which is a music label from Turkey. They have a web-site where you can purchase CDs and see their catalog. It was also released by Traditional Crossroads in U.S. The title of the CD is the same, but the cover art is different. The cove you see above is the Turkish release. Traditional Crossroads also have a web-site where you can purchase this CD and see their catalog. Their archival series of world music recordings from 1920 to 1950 "is the only series to be remastered from the original metal parts" in the U.S. (from Traditional Crossroads catalog).

Udi Yorgo Bacanos:
1900-1977

Munir Nurettin Beken:
The Art of the Turkish Ud

Cinucen Tanrikorur:
Fasil

Udi Hrant:
Udi Hrant Kenkulian

Cinucen Tanrikorur:
Turquie

Udi Hrant:
The Early Recordings vol. 1

Necdet Yasar Ensemble:
Music of Turkey

Udi Hrant:
The Early Recordings vol. 2

Vedad Gencturk:
L'art du ud Turc

Bezmara:
The Splendours of Topkapi

Necati Celik:
Yasemin

Fasl:
Musique de l'Empire Ottoman

Kudsi Erguner Ensemble:
Tatyos Efendi