Zeybeks, one of Anatolia’s longstanding musical traditions, reflect a cultural mindset symbolizing societal values such as heroism and freedom. In the Aydın region, ağır zeybeks (literally slow zeibek or slow-tempo zeibek), distinguished by their slow tempo, are integrated with the davul-zurna ensemble and dance figures, forming a distinctive open-air music tradition. The personal interpretations of local performers have allowed this tradition to diversify and survive to the present day. Through leading bağlama performers such as Talip Özkan and Yılmaz İpek, ağır zeybeks were incorporated into the bağlama repertoire; however, these adaptations have largely remained melody-centered, often neglecting the davul’s usûl patterns and the characteristic pauses of the dance. Consequently, bağlama interpretations exhibit significant representational and stylistic differences compared to the musical and cultural depth of ağır zeybeks. This study aims to comparatively analyze the performance characteristics of ağır zeybeks in the davul-zurna tradition and their adaptations on the bağlama, highlighting differences and discussing the resulting interpretative and identity issues. This study analyzes three heavy zeybek pieces from the Aydın region—Kadıoğlu Zeybeği, Kocaarap Zeybeği, and Yağmur Yağdı Zeybeği—examining both their traditional davul-zurna performances and bağlama adaptations. The analysis includes recordings from leading bağlama performers as well as recognized local davul-zurna masters.
Keywords: Ağır Zeybek, Bağlama, Drum, Zurna, Performance