Most commonly tuned like the violin (G, D, A, E) though with variants, though with its own distinct sound this Persian bowed string instrument used in Persian, Azerbaijani, Armenian, and Kurdish music, has a long neck and a spherical body. Tuning alternatives include the Armenian B, F#, B F# across two octaves, and the instrument, meaning “little bow”, is also related to the Turkish kabak kemane, which literally means "pumpkin-shaped bow instrument" with strings tighted by wooden pegs at the top of the neck.
Its name varies slightly from kamānche or kamāncha, in Persian: کمانچه, Azerbaijani: kamança, Armenian: Քամանչա, Kurdish: کەمانچە or kemançe. The round resonating chamber is made from a gourd or wood, often covered with a membrane made from the skin of a lamb, goat or sometimes a fish, on which the bridge is set. The kamanche can vary is size and neck length, and its various parts shown on a modern model:
Kamanche parts
Unlike the violin, the kamanche is played in an upright position.
A female player in ornate detail from a wall painting in which Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar is surrounded by musicians and dancers. By Abuʾl-Qasim, dated 1816Re
Renowned Azerbaijani kamancheh player Malik Mansurov
And to demonstrate and give more background from Tehran, here’s player, composer and master of classical Iranian traditional music Kayhan Kalhor:
Here also is acclaimed Azerbaijani kamancheh player Habil Eliyev-Şewat giving a virtuoso performance filled with trills and beautifully emotive expression.
In turn, he inspired Soviet Dagestan-born and now Israeli Mark Eliyahu:
Finally, here is some inspiring Armenian folk music, with a Kamancheh solo by Gurgen Mirzoyan.
So then, any more kamancheh music? Feel free to suggest examples from any form of music, or even film, art, or other contexts in comments below.
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