Music From Seventy-Two Strings: The Santur

The Santur is a three-octave wooden-hammered dulcimer with seventy-two strings arranged on adjustable tuning pegs.

Our friend Enayat played it at our weekly Devotional, gently tapping the strings with two little hammers lined with felt called mezrab. The Guild of American Luthiers offers an interesting Glossary:

English Translation Farsi Pronunciation Farsi A-tuned la kouk لاکوک betel palm foofel فوفل bridge bottom khazineh خزینه bridge cap saachmeh ساچمه bridge kharak خرک frame kalaaf کلاف G-tuned sol kouk سل کوک hammers mezrab مضراب hitch pin seem geer سیم گیر hot hide glue serishom سریشم nine-bridge noh-kharak نه خرک saddle rod maftool مفطول santur santour سنتور shellac lock lock-alkol لاک الکل Siberian elm Choob-e Aazaad چوب آزاد side bridge sheytaanak / zehvaareh شیطانک \ زهواره sound holes gol-e santur گل سنتور strings seem سیم traditional music of Persia sonnati سنتی system of traditional Persion music radeef ردیف building blocks of radeef dastgah دستگاه tuning pin gooshi گوشی tuning wrench kelid کلید

The great Persian craftsman Mehdi Nãzemi, who made santurs, wrote: "

“It was a local custom for rich families in Yazd that when a son was born in a family, a great party would be held. When my brother was born, among those invited to the celebration was an ensemble of the most famous singers and musicians of the region. They played instruments such as the santoor, tãr (Persian long necked lute), kamãnche (Persian spike fiddle) and arabãne (a kind of frame drum), and the famous singer Rezã Boland accompanied them. The santoor player of the ensemble, whose name was Gholãm-Hossein Naghãrechi, most strongly drew my attention. I was a nearly eight years old and hearing the sound of Santoor made me feel very happy. After the end of party I went to Gholãm-Hossein Khãn and asked him to give me a santoor, but I received only a smile. It was my first contact with the santoor and a santoor player”.