Biography
Aytaç Doğan is a Turkish qanun (kanun) virtuoso, widely regarded as one of the finest players of the instrument in the world today. Born on January 6, 1976, in Bursa, Turkey, he was introduced to the kanun by his grandfather at age 13. Just a year later, he impressed the celebrated singer İbrahim Tatlıses, who invited him to begin performing with him that same evening, launching his professional career at a remarkably young age.
He went on to work with Tatlıses's orchestra before moving to Istanbul, where he recorded albums for numerous popular Turkish artists and developed a distinctive style built around a unique single-plectrum technique. A pivotal moment came when the renowned Egyptian qanun master Mısırlı Ahmet heard a recording of his playing during a trip to Germany and subsequently introduced him to kanun players in Cairo, an experience that helped shape his musical voice through exposure to Arabic musical traditions.
In 2007, Doğan co-founded the celebrated ensemble Taksim Trio alongside bağlama player İsmail Tunçbilek and clarinetist Hüsnü Şenlendirici. He is known for a playful, chord-driven approach that gives the qanun a sound some listeners liken to a guitar, and he continues to be cited by fellow qanun players internationally as a major creative influence.
