The Qanun instrument has the ability to express the melodies of Iranian music, but unfortunately, it has remained unknown in our land for a long time, while in neighboring countries such as Turkey and Arab countries, more attention has been given to it. In this section of Saad News, we will provide complete information about the Qanun instrument.
You may have often mistaken the Qanun for the Santur. Yes, it is the instrument that looks similar to the Santur but is played with the fingers instead of mallets. The Qanun is a trapezoid-shaped box instrument, like the Santur, consisting of numerous nylon and metal strings on both sides of the box. The strings pass over a small bridge made of animal skin and are made of sheep gut or special nylon. To play the Qanun, the mallet is a finger ring that fits the thumb.
The large holes on the Qanun have a significant impact on the sound quality. This instrument is played with two thumb fingers and two ring-like mallets. The Qanun has 72 strings, 24 of which produce sound, and the remaining are tuned by 3 strings.
The Qanun is a small trapezoidal box similar to the Santur, with many strings and a bridge made of animal skin, surrounding the edges of a column. The strings are made of nylon or sheep gut. To play this melodious instrument, the mallet is the thumb ring that fits over the finger. The Qanun has 72 strings and 24 notes, each tuned with 3 strings.
Interestingly, this instrument originates from the Indian sitar, which later spread to Europe. However, there is no definitive document on the history of the Qanun. Nevertheless, the roots of the Qanun are Iranian, and it was added to Arab music after the rise of Islam. Particularly during the Safavid period, the Qanun gained much popularity, but with the decline of the dynasty, many instruments, including the Qanun, faded into obscurity. What is clear is that the Qanun reached Europe from the East, and inspired the creation of the largest keyboard instruments in Europe.
Some believe the philosopher Plato invented the Qanun, while others associate it with the Iranian heritage and credit Farabi as its creator. Additionally, Farabi's "Great Book of Music" deeply analyzes the instruments of his time, and there are references to the Qanun in this book.
The Qanun is one of the oldest plucked string instruments in Iranian music, capable of expressing the nuances of Iranian melodies. Unfortunately, it has remained largely unknown in Iran for a long time, while neighboring countries have used it for years. Nearly half a century ago, Iranian musicians started playing it, but due to the unintentional imitation of Arabic playing styles, a misconception arose that the Qanun is an Arabic instrument and should be played in the Arabic style. However, this style of playing distances one from the principles and subtleties of the Qanun, which perfectly aligns with Iranian music. Since playing an instrument and extracting "melodies" from it depends not only on the player's skill but also on the instrument's design, older Qanuns imported from neighboring countries or made according to specific tunings were unsuitable for Iranian music. Today, we have made significant progress in the industry and have been able to produce a Qanun based on Iranian musical aesthetics and intervals.
Parts of the Qanun:
Trapezoidal wooden body
Tuning pegs
Bridge
Strings (each set of three strings is tuned to the same note)
Soundboard
Lower panel
Tuning keys
Mallets
The Qanun player sits with the instrument on their lap or on a table. The two hands are placed an octave apart on the instrument, with the left hand striking the strings slightly after the right hand. This creates a double note sound with an octave interval.
The Qanun consists of 72 strings, grouped into 24 notes, each tuned by three strings. The tuning is done using small keys placed after the tuning pegs. This instrument is used less for accompanying vocals but is commonly found in orchestras, where it plays a role similar to the oud in terms of sound production.
The Qanun is one of the oldest Iranian instruments, capable of expressing the subtleties of Iranian music, though it has remained largely unknown in Iran for a long time. Meanwhile, neighboring countries have embraced it for years.
