Instrument Glossary - Aga Khan Music Initiative - AKDN
Aga Khan Development Network
 

Instrument Glossary: Invisible face of the Beloved

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(English, PDF format) Select a Performer from the list below:

Bardic Divas
Badakhshan Ensemble
Alim and Fargana Qasimov
Tengir-Too
Homayun Sakhi
Invisible face of the Beloved

Doira
A frame drum with jingles, commonly played by both men and women among sedentary populations in Central Asia. In Shashmaqâm, articulates the characteristic metric cycle (usul) of each instrumental and vocal genre.

Dutar
Designates different kinds of two-stringed longnecked fretted lutes among Uzbeks, Tajiks,Turkmen, Qaraqalpaks, Uyghurs, and other groups. Used as accompanying instrument in contemporary performances of Shashmaqâm.

Sato
Bowed tanbur, or long-necked lute, now rare, played by performers of Tajik-Uzbek and Uyghur classical music. The sato has five strings of which one is bowed and the others serve as drones. The body of the instrument is typically made from mulberry wood, while nutwood or peach wood is used for the neck.

Tanbur
Long-necked plucked lute with raised frets used in Uzbek-Tajik and Uyghur classical music traditions. The fundamental accompanying instrument for vocal performances of Shashmaqâm. One string is plucked, while the others serve as drones.

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