Qanûn (instrument)
See also: Qanûn
The qanûn (in Arab or Persan: rear RTL قانون; also transcribed kanoun, kanun, kanonaki, qanoun, quanoun ) is a String instrument pinches of the family of the Cithare S known table, very widespread in the countries of the the Middle East like in Greece, Iran and Arménie. It should not be confused with the Santour which is a String instrument struck.
The Arab word qanûn would derive from the Greek: κανών , Kanon (measurement) which was also the name given to an instrument monocorde intended for the study of the intervals in music, already known Pythagore.
The old story of the qanûn is not well-known. It is probable that the qanûn goes down from old the Harpe. Some allot it to the philosopher Al-Farabi at the end of the 9th century but no writing confirms this thesis. Others allot a Greek or Assyrian origin to him.
The oldest mention of this instrument, in the Arab literature, is in the tales of the Thousand and One Nights - of Persian origin - at the 10th century.
The qanûn then had a case of resonance to the varied forms (right-angled, triangle or trapezoid) on which were posed cords in bowel supported, with the right-hand side of the instrument, by a rest in contact with the Sounding board (out of wood) and attached, on its left, with ankles to allow accordement. Its introduction in Europe was done under the name of the Psaltérion , undoubtedly hawked by the projection of the Islam.
Stringed-instrument trade
The modern qanûn goes up at the end of the 18th century following its progressive introduction into the countries under Othoman influence, with the Morocco, in Iran, etc the qanûn did not allow whereas a monophonic play with the right hand. The left hand was to press on the cords to change the length of the pinch part and thus to allow the modulations, with the manner of the Asian Cithare S (Koto or Qin).
At the end of the 19th century, violin makers Turkish introduced with the left of the instrument, close to the ankles, of the levers allowing when they are lowered or raised to modify the length of the cord and thus to deteriorate the note. Another modification consisted in more not leaving the rest in direct contact with the case of resonance but placing it on a series from 4 to 5 elements in fish skin which considerably improved quality (stamp and volume) of the sound.
Today, the qanûn has a case of resonance in the form of trapezoid a thickness varying between 3 and 10 cm, the great base vary between 75 and 120 cm and the small base between 25 and 45 cm. The length of the perpendicular edge varies between 30 and 45 cm. It is in several type of wood (maple, mahogany tree, drowned). The Sounding board is bored of 3 or 4 rosettes and can be encrusted with mosaics.
The rest in spruce with multiple feet is posed with horse on rectangular fish skins (4 for the qanouns Turkish and 5 for the Arab qanouns) being used as amplifiers of resonance. It is perpendicular to the base of the instrument.