Kamancheh

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The kamancheh, kamencheh, kamānche, kamāncha or qyamancha (Persian: کمانچه - violinette, Azeri: kamança) is a Persian and Azeri 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. This instrument is widely played in classical Mugham music of Iran, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, with slight variations in the structure of the instrument.

The word "kamancheh" means "little bow" in Persian. The same instrument is called "kevançe" or "kemançe/kemanche" 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 famous kamancheh players.

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] Variations & Confusions

The karadeniz kemençesi is from Turkey, although it is a bowed instrument with a similar name, it differs greatly in structure and sound with the kamancha.

Armenians of Hamshen in Pontus or Historic Armenia play music using either long-necked Cappadocian Kemanes or Karadeniz Kemençesi also known as Pontian Lyra or Black Sea Fiddle. Both of these instruments can be referred to as kamancha by the musicians, however the structure of these instrument varies significantly from spike-fiddle type instruments.

[edit] See also

• Music of Iran
• Music of Azerbaijan
• Rebab - Most probably the ancestor, widely used in the Arab world.
• Gadulka
• Gudok
• Kemenche
• The lyra of Crete
• Kobyz

[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

fa:کمانچه fr:Kamancheh ja:ケマンチェ nn:Kamanjeh tr:Kamança glk:Kəmänçe