Persian Santur
The Persian santur is a trapezoid dulcimer with eighteen courses of strings played with a pair of beaters, and is a major instrument of Persian classical music.
The name “santur” is thought to come from the Greek word “psalterion” – a harp. The origins of the actual instrument, however, is less clear. We know that a similar instrument appeared in France and Germany in the early 15th century, and was first seen depicted in Iran in the late 15th century. It is likely that it assumed its current form in Iran around the 17th century, and has become an important instrument for Persian classical music in the 20th century. It is found in many other forms around the world, including the yangqin in China, the dulcimer in Europe and the US, in Central Asia , India and elsewhere.
The santur is made of wood such as walnut, rosewood or maple, with two rosettes pierced on to the surface. Its two beaters are made of mulberry or walnut, with felt covers popularly added to its tips in the 20th century, in an apparent imitation of the piano. Each of its eighteen courses of strings consists of four strings, and are made of brass for the lower strings and steel for the higher strings.
