KAMANCHEH Kamancheh (Per. کمانچه) is an Iranian bowed string instrument. Traditional instruments had three silk strings, but now we can see also kamanchehs with four metal strings. The body of kamancheh has a long upper neck and a resonating chamber covered with a membrane made from the skin of a lamb, goat or even fish. We […]
SISTRUM Sistrum is a musical instrument from ancient Egypt, also known by the Greeks and Romans (mentioned in poems of Ovid and Virgil). In Egypt you can see sistrum in paintings of Nefertari and the goddess Bastet and Isis. The sistrum is made of metal, usually brass, and it is 30 – 70 cm long […]
NAY NAY or NEY, NAI (per. نی) is a Persian flute which has been used in Middle East music for 5 000 years! You can see it in the wall paintings in Pyramids of Giza. Nay is made of reed and traditionally has 6 holes in the upper part for fingers and one hole at […]
DAF DAF (دف) is a large drum with little rings made of metal attached to wooden frame. The membrane is made of goat skin. This musical instrument comes from Iran, but now we can also hear it in the music of Middle East. In Iran, daf was used during important celebrations. We can also read about […]
BUZUQ BUZUQ (arab. بزق ) is a plucked string instrument. It is a long-necked lute with 5 to 7 strings and, unlike the oud, it has frets. Buzuq is not a typical Arabic instrument – it can be heard in the music of Turkey (and it’s related to Turkish saz), Greece (related to buzuqi) but […]
OUD Today I’m starting a series of articles about Arabic music instruments. Each Tuesday I will post notes and a sketch of one instrument on my blog. The first instrument, that we are going to have look at is: OUD (arab. عود). It is a stringed, pear shaped instrument that is popular in areas of […]