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[[File:Musiciens caucasiens.jpg|thumb|A sazandar orchestra, 1906]]
A '''sazanda''' or '''sazandar''' ({{langx|az|sazəndə}} / سازنده; {{langx|hy|սազանդար}}; {{langx|fa|سازنده}}; {{lang-ka|საზანდარი}}; alternative spellings in English: '''sazende''', '''sazandeh''') is one of the three musicians in the traditional ensemble of instrumentalists performing along with a singer ([[khananda]], in the case of an [[Culture of Azerbaijan|Azeri]] [[mugham]] performance) in the [[South Caucasus]]. The word means "builder" in Persian. The trio consists of a [[tar (lute)|tarist]], a [[kamancheh|kamanchist]] and a [[daf]] player. Historically the word sazanda(r) was applied to any instrumentalist from [[Anatolia]], the [[Caucasus]] or [[Iran]], who played a folk instrument.<ref>[https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/sazandari Sazandari] [[Great Soviet Encyclopædia]] (TheFreeDictionary.com's encyclopedia section)</ref>

==History and development==
[[Image:Azeri 7.jpg|right|thumb|225px|Trio of sazandas]]
The tradition of a musical trio of sazandas playing the aforementioned instruments did not originate until the beginning of the 20th century. According to [[Jabbar Garyagdioglu]], the mugham ensembles of the early 19th century consisted of three musicians playing the tar, the kamancheh and the [[balaban (instrument)|balaban]]. In the late 19th-century, the latter was replaced by [[naqareh|gosha-naghara]].<ref name="axtar">{{in lang|ru}} [http://www.axtar.az/ru/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=187&Itemid=177 Khananda] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927203316/http://www.axtar.az/ru/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=187&Itemid=177 |date=2007-09-27 }}. ''Axtar.az''</ref> Nowadays the traditional variety of tambourine called daf is used and is often played by the singers themselves.

Similar to the ensembles, the instruments have gone through changes in structure as well. Kamancheh has gone from having 2 [[String instrument|string]]s to having 3, 4 or even 5. Prominent [[Azerbaijani people|Azeri]] sazanda [[Sadigjan]] developed a new version of tar (nowadays known as the Azeri tar or the Caucasus tar) by adding one more string to this once 6-string instrument and improving it with a number of new features.<ref>[http://www.atlasofpluckedinstruments.com/middle_east.htm Atlas of Plucked Instruments - Middle East]</ref> After Sadigjan, the tar has been played nestled to the chest rather than held vertically during mugham performances.

The prominence of sazandas was seen by the physical appearance of their instruments. Some would decorate them with [[precious metals]] and [[Gemstone|gems]]. Sadigjan himself was reported of having decorated his tar with [[gold]] and [[nacre]].<ref name="axtar"/>

==See also==
*[[Khananda]]
*[[Ashik]]
*[[Bozlak]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Music of Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Music of Armenia]]
[[Category:Music of Georgia (country)]]