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[[File:Santur babylon2.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Ancient Babylonian Santur Drawing of Relief]]
[[File:Santur babylon2.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Ancient Babylonian Santur Drawing of Relief]]
[[File:Hasht-Behesht Palace santur.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Woman playing the santur in a painting from the ''Hasht-Behesht Palace'' in [[Isfahan (city)|Isfahan]] Iran, 1669]]
[[File:Hasht-Behesht Palace santur.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Woman playing the santur in a painting from the ''Hasht-Behesht Palace'' in [[Isfahan (city)|Isfahan]] Iran, 1669]]
Persian legend has it, that the name santur was first referenced in ancient Persian poetry;{{Citation needed|date=July 2012}}, and that to date there had never been verifiable evidence what this name actually meant, it was just a name and the only meaning it had in the Persian language was this instrument{{Citation needed|date=July 2012}}.
The name santur was first referenced in ancient Persian poetry;{{Citation needed|date=July 2012}}. To date there has never been verifiable evidence what this name actually means, it is just a name and the only meaning it has in the Persian language is this instrument{{Citation needed|date=July 2012}}.
However the word "santur" originated from the [[Ancient Greek]] term ψαλτήριον (''psaltērion''), "stringed instrument, [[psaltery]], [[harp]]".<ref>[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%23115319 ψαλτήριον], Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', on Perseus</ref><ref>[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%23115311 ψάλλω], Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', on Perseus</ref> and came into use from the [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]] term ''psantrīn'' to the Arab word ''sanṭīr'', ''sanṭūr'' or 'santūr' ( سنطير/سنطور/سنتور ). The Persian-derived sanṭūr is closely related to trapezoidal [[zither]]s that are beaten by two light hammers or plucked, like the Chinese [[yangqin]], the Greek [[santouri]], or the eastern Europe [[cimbalom]].<ref name=merr-web>{{cite web|title=Definition of SANTIR|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/santir|publisher=Merriam-Webster, Inc.|accessdate=29 July 2012}}</ref><ref name=britanica>{{cite web|title=The zither|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/569200/stringed-instrument/53722/The-zither#ref95451|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.|accessdate=29 July 2012}}</ref><ref name=britannica2>{{cite web|title=Zithers|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/569200/stringed-instrument/53710/Zithers#ref95332|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.|accessdate=29 July 2012}}</ref>
However the word "santur" derived from the Arab word ''sanṭūr'' or ''sanṭīr'' and stems originally from the [[Ancient Greek]] term ψαλτήριον (''psaltērion'')<ref name=merr-web>{{cite web|title=Definition of SANTIR|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/santir|publisher=Merriam-Webster, Inc.|accessdate=29 July 2012}}</ref>, "stringed instrument, [[psaltery]], [[harp]]".<ref>[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%23115319 ψαλτήριον], Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', on Perseus</ref><ref>[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%23115311 ψάλλω], Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', on Perseus</ref>


==Origin==
==Origin==
In the persian dulcimer (santur), the strings are rather beaten with small hammers than plucked like in the [[psaltery]], from which it originated.<ref name=merr-web>{{cite web|title=Definition of DULCIMER|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dulcimer?show=0&t=1343588430|publisher=Merriam-Webster, Incorporated|accessdate=29 July 2012}}</ref>
In the persian dulcimer (santur), the strings are rather beaten with small hammers than plucked like in the [[psaltery]], from which it originated.<ref name=merr-web>{{cite web|title=Definition of DULCIMER|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dulcimer?show=0&t=1343588430|publisher=Merriam-Webster, Incorporated|accessdate=29 July 2012}}</ref>
The santir consists of a low, oblong box with a flat bottom and a somewhat convex sounding-board, over which the strings are stretched. The player sits on the ground, or on a low stool, and holds it in his lap. The santir is in use among the [[Arabs]] at the present time. The hebrew viol is commonly identified with the santir (corresponding to the "[[psaltery| פסנתרין pesanterin]]" [= ψαλτήριον] of the book of {{Bibleref|Daniel|3:5|JP}}), a type of [[chordophone]] or [[hammered dulcimer]]. The viol (lit. "skin"), next to the [[kinnor]], was the instrument most used by the [[Israelites]].<ref>{{cite web|title=VIOL ( lit. "skin")|url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/14706-viol|work=The unedited full-text of the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia|publisher=JewishEncyclopedia.com|accessdate=1 July 2012}}</ref>
The santir consists of a low, oblong box with a flat bottom and a somewhat convex sounding-board, over which the strings are stretched. The player sits on the ground, or on a low stool, and holds it in his lap. The santir is in use among the [[Arabs]] at the present time. The hebrew viol is commonly identified with the santir (corresponding to the "[[pesanṭer]]" [= ψαλτήριον] of the book of Daniel 3:5), a type of [[chordophone]] or [[hammered dulcimer]]. The viol (lit. "skin"), next to the [[kinnor]], was the instrument most used by the [[Israelites]].<ref>{{cite web|title=VIOL ( lit. "skin")|url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/14706-viol|work=The unedited full-text of the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia|publisher=JewishEncyclopedia.com|accessdate=1 July 2012}}</ref>


==Characteristics==
==Characteristics==

Revision as of 08:37, 31 July 2012

See Santoor for the Indian variant of the instrument.
String
Classification Struck
Related instruments
Hammered Dulcimer
Concertino for Santur and Orchestra, by Faramarz Payvar and Hossein Dehlavi.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The santur (also santūr, santour, santoor ) (Persian: سنتور) is a Persian hammered dulcimer.[1] It is a trapezoid-shaped box often made of walnut or different exotic woods. The Persian classical santur has 72 strings. The first known use in it's modern form is 1853.[2]

Etymology

Ancient Babylonian Santur Drawing of Relief
File:Hasht-Behesht Palace santur.jpg
Woman playing the santur in a painting from the Hasht-Behesht Palace in Isfahan Iran, 1669

The name santur was first referenced in ancient Persian poetry;[citation needed]. To date there has never been verifiable evidence what this name actually means, it is just a name and the only meaning it has in the Persian language is this instrument[citation needed]. However the word "santur" derived from the Arab word sanṭūr or sanṭīr and stems originally from the Ancient Greek term ψαλτήριον (psaltērion)[2], "stringed instrument, psaltery, harp".[3][4]

Origin

In the persian dulcimer (santur), the strings are rather beaten with small hammers than plucked like in the psaltery, from which it originated.[2] The santir consists of a low, oblong box with a flat bottom and a somewhat convex sounding-board, over which the strings are stretched. The player sits on the ground, or on a low stool, and holds it in his lap. The santir is in use among the Arabs at the present time. The hebrew viol is commonly identified with the santir (corresponding to the "pesanṭer" [= ψαλτήριον] of the book of Daniel 3:5), a type of chordophone or hammered dulcimer. The viol (lit. "skin"), next to the kinnor, was the instrument most used by the Israelites.[5]

Characteristics

Santur Hand Position
Santur Technique Video.theora

The oval-shaped Mezrabs (mallets) are feather-weight and are held between the thumb, index and middle fingers. A typical Persian santur has two sets of bridges, providing a range of approximately three octaves. The right-hand strings are made of brass or copper,[6] while the left-hand strings are made of steel.[7]

Two rows of 9 articles called "kharak" (total of 18 kharaks) divide the santur into three positions. Over each bridge crosses four strings spanning horizontally across the right and left side of the instrument. There are three sections of nine pitches: each for the bass, middle and higher octave called Poshte Kharak (behind the left bridges) comprising 27 notes all together. The top "F" note is repeated 2 times, creating a total of 25 separate tones in the Santur. The Persian santur is primarily tuned to a variety of different diatonic scales utilizing quarter tones, which are used in the twelve dastgahs (modes) of Persian classical music called the Radif.

Derivations

Similar forms of the santur have been present in neighboring cultures like India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Armenia, Turkey, Iraq, China, and Greece. The Indian santoor is wider, more rectangular and has more strings. Its corresponding mallets are also held differently played with a different technique. The Chinese yangqin and the Greek santouri also derived from the santur. The eastern-European version of the santur called the cimballum which is much larger and chromatic is used as an accompanying instrument in gypsy music.[citation needed]

Notable Persian santur players

Iran

Santur players from other cultures

Greece
(Greek Santoori)

India (see Indian santoor)

Iraq

Japan

Santur makers

Nazemi produced the world's best santurs. He wasn't a craftsman, but he orchestrated the production of the best santurs made in Iran during the 1950s and 1960s. He used a master craftsman named Misour Levon who recently[when?] died at the age of 91 in Glendale, California.[citation needed]

Ali Bahmani made santurs that sound as good as Nazemi's. He took his craft to higher level, creating a machine press and created many advanced technology wood treatments, creative ideas that improved the longevity and quality of his santurs. Bahmani died in September 2011, in an accident in Tehran, Iran. He was only 35 years old and left behind a wife and a son.[citation needed]

Santurs from around the world

Versions of the santur or hammered dulcimer are used throughout the world. In Eastern Europe, a larger descendant of the hammered dulcimer called the cimbalom is played and has been used by a number of classical composers, including Zoltán Kodály, Igor Stravinsky and Pierre Boulez, and more recently, in a different musical context, by Blue Man Group. The khim is the name of both the Thai and the Khmer hammered dulcimer. The Chinese yangqin is a type of hammered dulcimer that originated in Persia. The santur and santoor are found in the Middle East and India, respectively.

[26]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Santur is a Persian hammered dulcimer". Art Max Academy.
  2. ^ a b c "Definition of SANTIR". Merriam-Webster, Inc. Retrieved 29 July 2012. Cite error: The named reference "merr-web" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  3. ^ ψαλτήριον, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
  4. ^ ψάλλω, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
  5. ^ "VIOL ( lit. "skin")". The unedited full-text of the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia. JewishEncyclopedia.com. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  6. ^ "Bass strings made of Brass or Copper". Art Max Academy.
  7. ^ "Different kinds of Steel exist". Art Max Academy.
  8. ^ Kiani, Majid. "Master of the Santur". Santur Master, Teacher & Performer.
  9. ^ Khan, Mohammad Sadeq. "One of the oldest Santur Masters". Master of the Santur.
  10. ^ Shahi, Ali Akbar. "Santur master". Old school santur player.
  11. ^ Khan, Hassan. "Santur Master". Old school Santur Master.
  12. ^ Malek, Hussein. "Santur master". Old School Santur Master.
  13. ^ Somai, Habib. "santur master". Old school Santur master.
  14. ^ Varzandeh, Reza. "Santur Master". Very Unique Style of Playing.
  15. ^ Shafieian, Reza. "Saba's Student". Santur Master.
  16. ^ Sarami, Mansur. "Santur Master". Old School Santur player.
  17. ^ Shaari, Masoud. "Santur Master". Old School Santur Master.
  18. ^ Khan, Mohammad Santour. "Oldest Santur Master that we have proof of". Master of the Santur. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  19. ^ Safvat, Daryoush. "Santur Master". Old school Santur master.
  20. ^ Akhbari, Jalal. "Old School Santur Master". Master of the Santur.
  21. ^ Arfa, Atrai. "Santur Player". Santur Soloist.
  22. ^ Hashemi, Azar. "Female Santur Player". Santur Soloist.
  23. ^ Aslani, Susan. "Female Santur Player". Santur Soloist.
  24. ^ Ali Pour, Manijeh. "Female Santur Player". Old School Santur Player.
  25. ^ Tani, Dr. Masato. "Japanese Santur Player". Ethnomusicology.
  26. ^ "Santurs from different cultures". Wikipedia.

Further reading

Heydarian, P. (2005). "The Persian music and the santur instrument" (PDF). Proceedings of Sixth International Conference on Music Information Retrieval, London, UK. Vol. 11. pp. 524–527. {{cite conference}}: Unknown parameter |booktitle= ignored (|book-title= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

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