Qanun (instrument)

Qanun/Kanun
Armenian Qanun, 19th century
String instrument
Classification
DevelopedAntiquity
Playing range
(F2)A2-E6(G6)
Related instruments
Kanun music during the 5th anniversary of Wikimedia Armenia

The qanun, kanun, ganoun or kanoon (Arabic: قانون, romanizedqānūn; Armenian: քանոն, romanizedk’anon; Sorani Kurdish: قانون, romanized: qānūn; Greek: κανονάκι, romanizedkanonáki; Hebrew: קָאנוּן, qanun; Persian: قانون, qānūn; Turkish: kanun; Azerbaijani: qanun; Uyghur: قالون, romanizedqalon) is an Arabic string instrument played either solo, or more often as part of an ensemble, in much of the Arab East, and Arab Maghreb region aka North Africa, later it reached West Africa, Central Asia due to Arab migration. It was also common in ancient (and modern-day) Armenia, and Greece. The name derives ultimately from Ancient Greek: κανών kanōn, meaning "rule, law, norm, principle". The qanun traces one of its origins to a stringed Assyrian instrument from the Old Assyrian Empire, specifically from the nineteenth century BC in Mesopotamia.[1] This instrument came inscribed on a box of elephant ivory found in the old Assyrian capital Nimrud (ancient name: Caleh).[1] The instrument is a type of large zither with a thin trapezoidal soundboard that is famous for its unique melodramatic sound.

  1. ^ a b "Qanoon". furatmusic.com.