Middle Eastern Qanun
The qanun is a trapezoid plucked zither used widely in Turkish and Arabic music as well as in Persian and Central Asian classical music.
The origins of the qanun is unclear, though some trace its origin to the psaltery, a vertical harp that dates back to ancient Mesopotamia. In its modern form, it was introduced from Egypt to Ottoman Classical Music played in present-day Turkey around early 19th century, from where it became widespread in the Middle East and North Africa. It is now a key instrument in classical and light music in the Arab World and in Turkey, thanks to its bright timbre and virtuosic possibilities. It was also introduced to Iran in 1900 and has gained popularity as a solo instrument. In Central Asia and in Azerbaijan, it is mainly used in classical music ensembles.
The qanun’s body is usually made out of walnut or similar woods, with an animal skin membrane covering part of the surface where the bridges are found. Its body is decorated with bones and shells. It is played with two turtle-shell plectrums attached to the thumb by a metal ring. It has twenty-six courses of strings, with three nylon strings to each course, each of which can be tuned microtonally by a number of metallic levers.
