Kamancheh
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The kamancheh, kamānche, or kamāncha (Persian: کمانچه - violinette, Azeri: kamança) is a Persian, Azeri and Armenian instrument related to the violin. Played with a variable-tension bow, the kamancheh consists of a round body made from gourd or wood, which acts as a sound box, covered with a thin sheep- or fish-skin membrane. Traditional kamanchehs have three silk strings, however, modern ones have four metal ones. At the bottom of the instrument is a spike to support the kamancheh while it is being played.
The word "kamancheh" means "little bow" in Persian. The same instrument is called "kevançe" in Kurdish and "kemençe" in Turkish.
About the length of a viola, kamanchehs are highly ornate, often with mother of pearl or bone inlays and beautifully carved ivory tuning pegs.
The kamancheh is the only bowed string instrument in classical Persian and Kurdish music. Ali Asghar Bahari, Ali Akbar Shekarchi, Ardeshir Kamkar and Kayhan Kalhor are among famous kamancheh player.
The instrument is traditionally played while sitting down and is held like a cello, but the end-pin can rest on the knee or thigh while seated in a chair.
[edit] See also
- Music of Iran
- Music of Azerbaijan
- Music of Armenia
- Rebab - Most probably the ancestor, widely used in the Arab world.
- Gadulka
- Gudok
- Kemenche
- The lyra of Crete
[edit] External links
- Nay-Nava the Encyclopedia of Persian Music Instruments
- Arash Dejkam's Iran Pages kamancheh section, features sound clips
- An old video of Ali-Asghar Bahari, playing Kamancheh in Hafezieh, shiraz
- About Kamanche and Kamanche players
| Iranian Musical Instruments | |||
| String Instruments (Sāzhāy-e Zehī) | |||
| Bowed instruments: | Ghazhak | Kamāncheh | Robāb | ||
| Plucked instruments: | Barbat | Chang | Dotār | Qānūn | Robāb | Sallāneh | Sāz | Setār | Tanbūr | Tār | Ūd | ||
| Struck instruments: | Santur | ||
| Woodwind instruments (Sāzhāy-e Bādī): | |||
| Exposed: | Darāy | Sornā | Karnay | ||
| End-blown: | Haft Band | Nāy (Ney) | Sheypur | ||
| Percussion instrument (Sāzhāy-e Kūbeheyī/Zarbī) | |||
| Auxiliary Percussion: | Daf | Dohol | Dāvūl | Dāyereh Zangī | Naqāreh | Tonbak (Dombak) | Kūs | Sanj | ||
