Arif Sağ is a legendary , academic, and a central figure in modern Turkish folk music. Known for elevating the bağlama to a solo concert instrument , he transformed it from a regional "villager's instrument" into a nationally recognized symbol of Turkish culture. Musical Significance and Solo Career
Arif Sağ is credited with being the first to bring the bağlama to the concert stage as a lead solo instrument. A landmark event in his career was the (This is Bağlama, This is Arif Sağ) recital at the Istanbul Şan Theatre, which was the first of its kind in Turkey.