Zurna
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- For other meanings, see Surna (disambiguation)
The zurna (also called surnay, birbynė, lettish horn, surla, sornai, zournas, zurma) is an Anatolian woodwind instrument with a double reed. Tuiduk is a wind instrument (similar to surnai). Turkmen say that Adam who was moulded from clay had no soul. It was only due to the melodious tuiduk playing Archangel Gabriel could breath life into him. According to a Turkmen legend the main role in tuiduk invention was played by the devil. There is a ritual of inviting guests for a celebration which has survived from ancient times. Two tuiduk players stand in front each other, point their instruments upwards and play in unison. While doing this they perform magic circular movements which remind that this ritual used to be linked to shamanism.
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[edit] Characteristics and history
It has 5 or 7 finger holes above and one finger hole below. It is similar to the Mizmar. The Zurna had often been featured in the Ottoman military bands. Zurnas are also used in the folk music of the countries in the region, especially Armenia, Bosnia, Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Iran and the other Caucasian countries. It has origins in ancient Egypt, and has now spread throughout the Islamic world, China, and Eastern Europe. In Russian folk music, it is used in sad folk songs. It is often used in the music of Lithuania and Belarus, where bands such as Sutaras and Stary Olsa use them in traditional music.
The Zurna is most likely the immediate predecessor of the European Shawm as well as the Chinese Suona still used today in temple and funeral music. The Japanese charumera used by itinerant noodle vendors is a small zurna, its name deriving from the Portuguese chirimiya.
There are several types of zurnas. They all share one and the same sound inductor - the so called kalem - which is actually a very tight (and short) double reed, sometimes made out of wheat leaves. The longest (and lowest) is the Kaba zurna, used in northern Turkey and Bulgaria. As a rule of thumb, a zurna is conical and made of wood.
[edit] Etymology and terminology
Oldest Turkish records suruna in Codex Cumanicus(CCM fol. 45a) < Persian word that is combined of two parts:
- Sur = festival & red
- Nay / Na = Reed / Pipe ". [1].
[edit] Terminology in Anatolia
Turkish terminology
1. Head and reed
- zaynak Ankara
- nazik Abdal
- ula Uludağ
- çatal Çankırı
- zinak Diyarbakır - Kurdish
- nezik Gaziantep
- fasla Kırklareli
- zaynak - Kurdish
2. Pipe
- metef Ankara
- metem Abdal
- çığırdan Uludağ
- demir Çankırı
- bülbülük Diyarbakır
- kanel Kırklareli
- metef - Kurdish
- lüle Sivas
[edit] Salmiej (Zalejka, hornpipe)
Reconstruction of the European reed instruments known since the 11th century. The instrument is made by master Todar Kaskurevic. In Belarus, common people called hornpipes zalejkas since the 11th century, while the dukes of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania called them salmiejs.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ Picken, Laurence. Folk Music Instruments of Turkey. Oxford University Press. London. p. 485
[edit] External links
- zurna fingiring
- Armenian Zurna By master Arthur Grigoryan
- History of the Zurna, from ancient times until the 18th century; in German: Janissary instruments and Europe
- Zurna-FAQ This site is trying to answer the typical questions a beginner has about zurna, explains and illustrates key techniques a zurna player must master.
- KabaZurna This site is mostly in Turkish but has pictures from the making, sound clips etc.. which may be useful to non Turkish speakers.
- Zurla
- Historical background of Zurna
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