Balaban or Balaman is a cylindrical double-reed wind instrument about 35 centimeters long that originally had six finger holes at the top, which now number seven or eight. In this article from Saed News, we provide a complete introduction to the Balaman instrument.
Balaban or Balaman is a double-reed cylindrical wind instrument about 35 centimeters long, featuring eight finger holes and one thumb hole. Balaban is one of the ancient wind instruments played throughout all regions of Azerbaijan. This instrument is also played in Iranian Azerbaijan and the Republic of Azerbaijan. It is played in Turkey as well. The Armenian duduk instrument is very similar to the Balaban, differing only slightly in appearance.
Balaban may be made from mulberry wood or other hardwoods such as walnut. The internal diameter of the instrument is about 1.5 centimeters. The double reed is made from a single cane tube approximately six centimeters long, flattened at the end. The player uses circular breathing by storing air in their cheeks to continue playing while inhaling into their lungs. This circular breathing technique is commonly used with all double-reed instruments in the Middle East.
According to historical documents, a type of wind instrument belonging to the Ney-o-Sorna family has been known since at least the early Islamic centuries in Iran and was used by the people of parts of this land. The term "Balaban" actually means a type of wind instrument similar to Ney, with variations such as Belben, Balben, and Balaban appearing in Turkish and Russian dictionaries. In Azerbaijani and Russian, Balaban is defined as a relatively small wind instrument similar to Zurna. Russian encyclopedias describe Balaban as a reed wind instrument commonly used among the peoples of the North Caucasus and Iranians. Balaban is a native wind instrument of the geographic and cultural regions of East Azerbaijan—especially Tabriz—and Kurdistan in Iran and surrounding areas, played by local musicians.
In Kurdish, this instrument is called "Balevan," and in Shushtari Ney it is called "Belbon." It can be clearly stated that Balaban is a special instrument of Azerbaijani ashiks (folk bards), who traditionally performed with just the saz (stringed instrument) and the gaval (frame drum), and nowadays often accompany their performances with the Balaban. Balaban plays a crucial role in the ashik performances by adding beauty and support to their voices. Sometimes the instrument is tuned (Balaban Cook), and the role of the Balaban player (Balabanchi) in ashik groups is as essential as wings to a bird.
Outside of Iran, the Balaban is also used by various North Caucasus ethnic groups, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, East Turkestan, and the Muslim communities in northwest China. In the city of Baku, there is a large music ensemble where all musicians play the Balaban.
On rare occasions, such as weddings and holidays, the Balaban player is accompanied by a percussionist. A traditional Azeri music group consisting of two Balaban players and one percussionist is called "Balabanchilar Dastasi." A short repertoire of Azeri folk music played with Balaban is recorded on the Voyager Golden Record as a representative of world music among many human cultural achievements.
Balaban consists of two main parts: the reed and the body. Its reed, compared to other double reeds, is the longest and widest in the Iranian region, with its shape, size, and construction being very important. The reed varies in length, width, and thickness according to the player’s preference, tonal color desired, and tonality.
The reed is a cane piece about ten centimeters long. The lower part fits into the top hole of the body as a tube, gradually widening toward the top and ending in a narrow slit. The tip of the reed rests between the player’s lips. The front of the body has seven or eight holes for fingers, and there is one thumb hole at the back.
Balaban also has two other sensitive parts: a reed protector made of a narrow curved wooden strip placed over the reed when not played, and a thin curved wooden piece positioned roughly mid-length on the reed used for tuning and adjusting the Balaban’s sound. The body is made of wood, and the reed is made from a special type of cane.
Because the Balaban reed contacts the player’s lips directly, the instrument can produce a wide range of nuances (dynamics). Unlike the Sorna, whose reed vibrates freely in the mouth without lip contact and thus cannot be controlled by the lips, the Balaban is played with circular breathing technique, enabling dynamic control from very soft (pp) to very loud (ff), making it unique among instruments.
The Balaban’s sound range is relatively low and fluid, changing dynamically with variations in air pressure, lip tension, and the degree to which holes are covered to perform different musical modes (maqams).
In East Azerbaijan, Balaban is played in Ashiq music, traditionally performed by a singer and the Qopuz (a stringed instrument) player, accompanied by Balaban and Gaval (frame drum). In this trio, the Balaban plays a crucial role, often responding to the vocal lines. The Balaban repertoire mirrors the Ashiq music modes, mostly performed as storytelling and narratives. Ashiq music is performed at weddings, celebrations, and Ashiq coffee houses.
On rare occasions like weddings and holidays, the Balaban player is accompanied by a percussionist. The traditional Azeri group consisting of two Balaban players and one percussionist is called "Balabanchilar Dastasi." A short collection of Azeri folk music played on the Balaban is recorded on the Voyager Golden Record as a representation of world music. The instrument is also used in spiritual and religious singing and funeral music. According to Hossein Gulu Sarabski, hunters played Balaban to attract quail. Special types of Balaban are used in Ashiq music, the music of traveling Azerbaijani bards.
Pieces performed by Kamil Jalilov on the Balaban are recorded on the Voyager Golden Record, attached to the Voyager spacecraft, representing Azeri folk music among many human cultural achievements.
Balaban is a double-reed cylindrical wind instrument about 35 centimeters long that originally had six finger holes but now has seven or eight. It is well known among the peoples of northwest Iran. Balaban or Balaman is a double-reed wind instrument with a cylindrical internal chamber, eight finger holes, and one thumb hole. Balaban is an ancient wind instrument played throughout all regions of Azerbaijan.
