The Surahi is a bowed instrument with a low pitch, whose alto sound range is similar to the instruments of Khorasan. The Surahi belongs to the family of Kamancheh and Ghejak and has the playing capabilities and sound range of the violin family. In this article from Saed News, we provide a complete introduction to the Surahi instrument.
The Surahi is a bowed string instrument with a low register whose alto size produces a sound close to the instruments of Khorasan. It belongs to the family of Kamancheh and Ghejak and has the playing capabilities and sound range of the violin family. This instrument was designed and made by Mohammad-Reza Shajarian in September 2008 (Shahrivar 1387 in the Iranian calendar). Due to its resemblance to the traditional Surahi vessel, Shajarian chose this name for the instrument. Players of Kamancheh, Ghejak, violin, cello, and double bass can easily play this instrument. It was first introduced and performed in the Mehr 1387 concert by the Shehnaz group and Mohammad-Reza Shajarian.
One notable feature of the Surahi compared to its family members is the ability to interchange its skin and wooden resonator, similar to a small drum (tonbak). This feature gives the instrument a unique and distinctive tonal color. Sina Jahanabadi performed the Surahi in the Shoor mode, and Mehrdad Nasehi played it in the Homayoun mode for the first time.
The Surahi is another innovative bowed string instrument, played similarly to the Kamancheh, designed by Mohammad-Reza Shajarian in 2008. It can be played easily by Kamancheh, Ghejak, violin, cello, and double bass musicians. It was unveiled and played for the first time in the Mehr 1387 concert by the Shehnaz group and Master Shajarian. The Surahi is classified as a low-pitched bowed string instrument and has been designed in four vocal ranges: soprano, alto, bass (low Surahi), and double bass (Shah Surahi).
This bowed instrument has a neck shaped like a violin’s, but its body and soundboard have a unique form. Under the bridge, it has a vase-shaped (gourd-like) chamber, which can be covered with either skin or a combination of skin and wood. A remarkable feature is the color variation achieved by swapping the vase’s skin in less than two minutes, a capability not seen in other instruments. When only the skin is under the bridge, the instrument’s sonority and tone are suitable for solo performances and resemble the local instruments of Khorasan, reflecting the regional musical accent. Adding wood atop the skin gives the instrument a more ensemble-like tone and enriches orchestral coloration.
Other features include a slightly angled neck similar to that of the cello, which rests against the body, and a flat back, making higher position playing easier for the musician. The easy replacement of the vase-shaped chamber allows the player to choose different skins stretched over different gourds, enabling diverse tonal colors suited to various musical contexts. The instrument covers a wide range of sounds from the clear tones of a violin alto to the more nasal sounds of Kamancheh or even alto Ghejak.
This instrument was designed and produced to address the lack of bass sounds in bowed string instruments. With the same vocal range as the Kamancheh, the Surahi adds a new voice to Iranian orchestras. It can also be used in string orchestras.
In several press interviews, Master Shajarian explained that the motivation behind inventing and building new Iranian instruments was to create new melodies and increase the capabilities of Iranian musical instruments.
According to him, Iranian musical instruments have not been sufficiently effective in producing bass sounds for use in large orchestras, and existing instruments were mostly limited to middle-octave ranges. In the instruments he designed, sound production in lower and higher octaves has been considered as well.
Besides the Surahi, instruments like Shah Surahi, Surahi Alto, Bass Surahi, Shahraashoub, Shahraashoub Alto, Bom Saz, Shehnavaaz, Sheh Bang, Kershmeh, Barbad, Tandor, Saagar, Sabo Soprano, Del o Del Alto, Del o Del Soprano, and Parihib are other instruments introduced by Master Shajarian.
The Surahi is a low-pitched bowed string instrument whose alto size produces a sound close to Khorasan instruments. It belongs to the family of Kamancheh and Ghejak and possesses the playing capabilities and sound range of the violin family. It was designed and built by Master Mohammad-Reza Shajarian in September 2008, who named it Surahi due to its resemblance to the traditional Surahi vessel.
