Turkish Lavta: Traditional Instrument with a Modern Twist

The Turkish lavta is an attractrive combination among the Oud and Saz. Lavta is Known as a lavuta in Armenian, and occasionally called Politiko Laouto in Greek, is an instrument that was popular in the early 20th century, among the Greek and Armenian communities of Istanbul, but also in the Turkish community, it was one of the instruments played by noted Turk Tanburi Cemil Bey. It was slowly replaced by oud and survived until this day. Since 1980s there has been a revival of interest in this instrument, and now it is possible to find lavta again both in Turkey and in Greece.