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Instrument Glossary

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

Alim and Fargana Qasimov: Spiritual music of Azerbaijan

Balaban
Cylindrical oboe made from apricot, mulberry, or nut wood played with a large double reed that produces a soft, breathy, and often mournful sound.

Daf
Frame drum, also called qaval, widely used in Azerbaijani folk music as well as in the classical mugham. Fish, goat skin, or, nowadays, plastic provides the playing surface. Jingling metal rings are sometimes attached to the inside of the frame.

Naghara
Cylindrical double-sided frame drum held under the arm and played with hands rather than sticks. Naghara is typically played at festive celebrations, especially weddings.

Kamancha
Cylindrical double-sided frame drum held under the arm and played with hands rather than sticks. Naghara is typically played at festive celebrations, especially weddings.

Tar
Double-chested plucked lute used in urban music from the Caucasus and Iran. In Azerbaijan, the tar is widely considered the national instrument. Iranian and Azeri tars are distinguished by number of strings, quantity and position of frets, playing position, and type of plectrum. The skinlike cover of the resonating chamber is traditionally made from the pericardial membrane that englobes a cow heart.