Göksel Baktagir

Göksel Baktagir is a Turkish composer and musician. He is considered to be an authority and innovator regarding the kanun (zither) Born in Kirklareli in 1966, Göksel Baktagir began his music education at the age of eight under the supervision of his father Muzaffer Baktagir. In 1989 he was appointed as the kanun (zither) player to the State Turkish Music Group of Istanbul, which was under direction of Tanburi Necdet Yaşar. During this period, he gave concerts with the Necdet Yaşar Ensemble. Göksel Baktagir began to compose during his studentship in the conservatory and has done 140 compositions, 35 vocal and 105 instrumental works. Baktagir has been working on the "left hand" technique that is unique to him, since 1984, along with other techniques in the performance of the zither. Recognized as one of the leading kanun/zither artists of our time, he taken a traditional Turkish music instrument and introduced it to other forms of world music.