Ashiq

An ashik (Persian: آشیک; Azerbaijani: aşıq; Turkish: âşık) or ashugh (Armenian: աշուղ; Georgian: აშუღი) is traditionally a singer-poet and bard who accompanies his song, be it a dastan (traditional epic story, also known as hikaye) or a shorter original composition with a long-necked lute, or an other instrument in Armenian, Iranian, Azerbaijani, Turkish, South Azerbaijani and Georgian cultures of the South Caucasus and surrounding regions. In general, the modern ashik is a professional musician who usually serves an apprenticeship, masters playing the duduk, saz, kamancheh, tar, or another instrument (like the sring or daf) and builds up a varied, but individual repertoire of folk songs.