String

Santur (Persian)

The Persian santur is a hammered dulcimer with 72 strings arranged in 18 groups of 4. Played with delicate wooden hammers, it produces a crystalline, bell-like sound that's central to Persian classical music. The instrument requires incredible precision and has been refined over centuries.

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Overview

The Persian santur is a hammered dulcimer with 72 strings arranged in 18 groups of 4. Played with delicate wooden hammers, it produces a crystalline, bell-like sound that's central to Persian classical music. The instrument requires incredible precision and has been refined over centuries.

Cultural Context

The santur is central to Persian classical music and represents the sophisticated musical traditions of Iran, with its complex modal system and intricate ornamentation techniques.

Famous Players

Parviz Meshkatian
Faramarz Payvar
Pashang Kamkar
Majid Derakhshani

Fun Fact

The santur is one of the most technically demanding Persian instruments, requiring years of study to master the complex microtonal scales and intricate ornamentation.

Quick Facts

Origin

Iran

Era

The santur is central to Persian classical music and represents the sophisticated musical traditions of Iran, with its complex modal system and intricate ornamentation techniques.

Difficulty

Advanced

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