Sedat Anar, born in 1988 in the Halfeti district of Şanlıurfa, is a santur artist, composer, and writer. Anar is recognized as one of the figures who revived the visibility of the santur instrument in Türkiye, interpreting traditional Eastern music and Sufi musical traditions through a santur-centered perspective. His music draws inspiration from the cultural and spiritual heritage of Anatolia, the poetry of Sufi poets, and Eastern musical instruments.

Sedat Anar began his musical journey at the suggestion of his elementary school teacher, playing the bağlama. His interest in music deepened after watching Mahzuni Şerif perform the folk song “Çeşm-i Siyahım” on television. He subsequently taught himself to play the cura, an instrument purchased by his mother.

The local musical culture of Halfeti, where Anar grew up during his childhood and youth, had a significant influence on him. Halfeti’s hybrid cultural identity, blending elements from both Gaziantep and Urfa traditions, played a decisive role in shaping his musical memory. Oral traditions within his family also contributed significantly; his grandmother’s laments and his grandfather’s folktales left a lasting imprint on his artistic world.

In 2007, Anar was admitted to the History Department at Hacettepe University and moved to Ankara. However, he left his university studies in his third year to deepen his understanding of Eastern music, particularly the santur. He traveled periodically to Iran, where he studied santur with Navid Pirmohammedi and Cavid Mousapour, erbane/daf with Arash Ruygar, and tenbur as well.

Between 2007 and 2014, Sedat Anar performed as a street musician in Ankara. In 2013, he released his album Belagat under the Ahenk Müzik label, recognized as Türkiye’s first solo santur album. In 2014, he released Amak-ı Hayal under the Kalan Müzik label.

^{Sedat Anar Performance at the Tunis Medine Festival (Anadolu Ajansı)}

Anar has accompanied numerous theater productions, documentaries, short films, and albums with his santur. He conceived and hosted two programs on TRT Müzik: “Sesler Âlemi” and “Santur’un Sesi”.

He has released 12 albums under the Kalan Müzik and Ahenk Müzik labels.

Anar represented Türkiye at the ABU TV Song Festival held in India, following a recommendation by the TRT Müzik coordinator to the Indian delegation. He has also performed at Sufifest in Zanzibar and the 42nd Medine Music Festival in Tunisia.

• Amak-ı Hayal — 2014
• Belâgat — 2014
• Aşık Ölmez - Yunus’un İzinden — 2015
• Çağırıram Dost — 2015
• Ayrı Dilden Aynı Gönülden — 2017
• Suyun Ayak Sesi (Halfeti’de Yaşamış Şairlere Besteler) — 2018
• Santur — 2019
• Pandemide Evde Kaydettiğim Enstrümantaller — 2021
• Santur ve Hang Drum — 2023
• Rüya — 2024
• Rubab — 2025
• Sırr Kudüs Macerası Film Müzikleri — 2025
• Sufi — 2025

Sedat Anar does not define himself as a traditionalist performer of classical music. He emphasizes his effort to use Eastern instruments within a harmonic and modern structure. In his music, alongside traditional Eastern instruments such as the santur, cura, kopuz, lavta, setar, and tambur/tenbur, he incorporates handpan, double bass, violin, cello, guitar, and electronic soundscapes.

According to Anar, music is not only a carrier of emotions but also of the spirit, concepts, and social relationships of its era.^【1】 He argues that every age has its own musical language, grammar, and mode of expression. He acknowledges that new forms may initially be met with resistance but will eventually be better understood over time.^【2】

The quote by Gustav Mahler — “Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire” — and Mevlana’s phrase, “The time has come to speak of new things,” hold a central place in Anar’s artistic philosophy. For him, the true value in art lies in resisting conformity and opening up new expressive domains.^【3】

In addition to being a musician and composer, Sedat Anar is also recognized as a writer. He has produced works in the genres of memoir, research and study, novel, essay, portrait, and short story.

• Sokaknâme / Bir Sokak Müzisyeni’nin Kaleminden — Memoir, İletişim Yayınları, 2018
• Santurnâme - Geçmişten Günümüze Santurun Hikâyesi — Research and study, Beykoz Belediyesi Yayınları, 2020
• Hallerin Esiri — Novel, İletişim Yayınları, 2021
• Sokağın Sesleri: Osmanlı’dan Günümüze Sokak Müziği — Research and study, İletişim Yayınları, 2021
• Hayatın Uğultusu Dışında — Portraits, Pruva Yayınları, 2022
• Bir Müzisyenin Arayışı — Essay, Everest Yayınları, 2022
• Paganini Dinleyen İnekler — Short story, İletişim Yayınları, 2023