Kamancheh

Kamancheh

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Kamanche (also called Rebab in the past) is a bowed string instrument. Its history began in the 14th century. In Persian, Kamancheh means small bow, which refers to its shape and style of playing. Based on the miniature and remaining manuscript, modern Kmancheh is identical to early versions except for the fourth string, metal strings, and tuning. With the appearance of the violin in Iran and the infatuation of musicians with it, Kamancheh was forced to disappear from traditional music for almost one century (it never disappeared from folk music in such provinces as Lorestan, Azerbaijan, and Kurdistan). Kakmancheh surfaced again in traditional Persian music in the 1950s, which had a high impact on introducing Persian classical music to Western music players and fans.

The standard type of Kamancheh has three main parts:

1- Spherical sound box with a cross-section covered by lamb skin.

2- Long neck with pegs to hold and tune the strings.

3- Tail to help keep Kamancheh vertically and accessible movement.

It should be mentioned early versions of Kamancheh had three silk or gut strings and bows made by horsehairs.

It should be mentioned early versions of Kamancheh had three silk or gut strings and bows made by horsehairs.

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