COMPOSITEURS ET INTERPRÈTES

İSAK TANBûRî ( FRESKO ROMANO )

(1745-1814)

A composer and player of the tambur, İsak was born in the Ortaköy quarter of Istanbul. He was trained as a synagogue cantor, and at the same time taught tanbur at the Palace. Among his students were Selim III, Kuyumcu Oskiyam, Zeki Mehmet Ağa and Tanbûrî Mehmet Ağa. His style of tanbur playing was passed from generation to generation; during his youth he also played violin and voil da gamba. Being both a singer and an instrumentalist was helpful to his career as a composer. He is known as one of the most valuable non-muslim composers in Turkish music history.