On December 2019, I had a conversation with my brother from Ecuador. He told me that he had interest to buy an instrument from the Middle East if I could bring it with me on the airplane. If so, what instrument would it be? I answered without doubt: it must be a bağlama!
Table of Contents
Finding the Right Bağlama
Design and Prices
At that time, I was living in Ankara, Turkey. I have seen already people playing this instrument on the street and it sounds tremendously appealing to the ear. I have on Spotify a middle eastern playlist with the bağlama sound. Check it out.
But there are many many MANY options to choose from. You have instruments from casual to professional quality and the prices are naturally proportional. In a store I found from 300 TRY (54,54 USD) to 3000 TRY (545 USD). Also you will have to choose from many models and colors.
But my intuition brought me to a clue. There were higher odds that the bağlama will be hanging in the wall for long time (as decoration) before my brother will actually start to learn it, if this ever happens. Knowing him, I knew that it should be pretty-looking but not so professional. So I ended up buying a bağlama with a brown body.
Making friends with a Salesman
On December 23 of 2019, when I was walking in the busy streets of Ankara in Turkey, I went to a shop of musical instruments. I asked for prices of many violins and bağlamas, just to get a idea how much would it cost one. Until this point a normal salesman-costumer interaction.
But after I told him that I come from Ecuador, he asked me how many months I was here already and I was doing here. Then he invited me hot tea, while I was explaining him that I was studying Turkish, similar to the Tömer. He offered me a chair to sit and continue to chat. I was already used to tea and drinking it with strangers, so I accepted; but not long ago, I would have rejected it politely.
The awkward question
He pointed to the computer of his office. He was showing me an online social network.
- Salesman: Do you have one?
- Juditova: Do I have?… The social network?
- Salesman: Yes! That social network.
- Juditova: Y… y… yes…
After I confirmed it he showed me the keyboard and mouse, where I typed my profile name, and then he added me to his contacts. I was laughing afterwards but from nervousness when I finally understood that I added a stranger to my social network. I couldn't believe it!
When I got out of the music instrument shop, I sent a voice message to my brother explaining what happened with a nervous laughter: He has added me to my social network. Now you must buy him the instrument!
Was this normal? Or just an eventuality?
I replied nervous. A stranger was asking me if I had a profile on a social network! What was going on?? Normally, I would have criticized this as a stalker moment. Instead, the salesman was asking it to keep in touch with a foreigner. Although we couldn't interchange a lot of conversation (because I couldn't speak Turkish very well), I still communicated in a friendly way. He was, after all, about 60+ years old and certainly he wouldn't meet normally someone from South America in Ankara, Turkey.
I received the criticism of other foreigners that Turks are generally importunate or intrusive with your personal life. However, I found out they don't do so in a hostile way, for most of cases. It's their culture. If you are a reserved person or introverted, you may problems dealing with it.
Taking the Bağlama to my Homeland
Airplane Fee
Taking a Middle Eastern musical instrument overseas isn't hard actually because you need to carry it with you. But here is the thing: you will need to inform yourself about what does your airline allows you to take with you.
For most cases, they will ask to pay a fee, which is cheaper if you buy it before you get into the airplane. If you don't do so, you will be likely paying a fine when you arrive to the counter. For example, this is the Carry-On Bags Information from the airline I travelled with from JFK (New York) to GYE (Guayaquil).
Case
I believe this is explained by itself! You will certainly bump it onto the ground, wall or many other object. I decided to buy a carrying case for around 100 TRY (17,85 USD). The Bağlama must arrive safely to home.
The day that I bought the case, something funny happended. The same salesman which added me on the social network that day, sold me the case. I told him that I was leaving to my homeland and he asked me:
- Salesman: When are you going to return?
I opened my hand, placed on my chest and pointed my palm towards the salesman. - Juditova: Allah bilir…(Allah knows).
The salesman and other people nearby (probably his friends) began to laugh very loud!! Somehow, they did expect a foreigner to use such religious expression and they like it very much. We said goodbye each other very friendly. We were both with a smile in the face.
The Deal behind it
My brother wanted a Bağlama from Turkey and he wanted me to carry it to home. What I wanted in exchange for this favor? Another favor of course!
Since I was returning from a trip to the Middle East, which I called Tomebamba – Bosphorus 2019, I asked him a small loan (with 0% interest) which I was going to pay it 2 months later. According to my calculations, I could purchase 1 more product that I was looking for some time ago.
I was checking this BEAUTIFUL 27″ (68.58cm) computer monitor, the Dell – S2719DGF . Since I was going to be in New York for airplane transit, why not should I take home this awesome display with me? I ended up going to the BestBuy at the Union Square to buy the monitor in the first days of March 2020 (just a few days from the COVID-19 lockdown!!).
Video Compilation of the Bağlama‘s Sound
I asked the salesmen if they could play for me the Bağlama (and if I could record them) so I could help my brother to decide which one is right for him. They all agreed, without exception. Because of this, I made a compilation of the recordings. Watch it here below.
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