For instruments also called Kemençe, see Kemenche.
The classicalkemenche (Turkish: Klasik kemençe), Armudî kemençe ('pear-shaped kemenche') or Politiki lyra (Greek: πολίτικη λύρα, 'Constantinopolitan lyre') is a pear-shaped bowed instrument that derived from the medieval Greek byzantine lyre.
It was mainly used by Greek immigrants from Asia Minor and in classical Ottoman music. The instrument was also used earlier for popular music, such as early "Smyrna-Style" Rebetiko and played till nowadays. It has become the main bowed instrument of Ottoman classical music since the mid 19th century.
The name Kemençe derives from the PersianKamancheh, and means merely "small bow".[1]
The name lyra derives from the name of the ancient Greek lyre and was used in medieval times, see Byzantine lyra.
Playing
External video
Neva Özgen demonstrates the kemençe
It is played in the downright position, by resting it between both knees or on one knee when sitting. It is always played "braccio", that is, with the tuning head uppermost. The kemenche bow is called the yay (Turkish: Yay) and the doksar (Greek: δοξάρι), the Greek term for bow.
The strings are stopped by touching them by the side with the nails, like for many folk fiddles from Southeastern Europe to the Indian sub-continent, including the Indian sarangi.
Construction
Smyrna style trio: K. Lambros, R. Eskenazi, A. Tomboulis (Athens, 1930)
Its pear-shaped body, elliptical pegbox and neck are fashioned from a single piece of wood. Its sound-board has two D-shaped soundholes of some 4x3 cm, approximately 25 mm apart, the rounded side facing outwards. The bridge is placed between, one side resting on the face of the instrument and the other on the sound post. A small hole 3–4 mm in diameter is bored in the back, directly below the bridge, and a 'back channel' ('sırt oluğu') begins from a triangular raised area ('mihrap') which is an extension of the neck, widens in the middle, and ends in a point near the tailpiece ("kuyruk takozu") to which the gut or metal strings are attached. There is no nut to equalize the vibrating lengths of the strings.
The pegs, which are 14–15 cm long, form a triangle on the head, the middle string being 37–40 mm longer than the strings to either side of it. The vibrating lengths of the short strings are 25.5–26 cm. All the strings are of gut but the yegâh string is silver-wound. Today players may use synthetic racquet strings, aluminium-wound gut, synthetic silk or chromed steel violin strings.
Formerly the head, neck and back channel might be inlaid with ivory, mother-of-pearl or tortoise shell. Some kemençes made for the palace or mansions by great makers such as Büyük İzmitli or Baron had their backs and even the edges of the sound holes completely covered with such inlays with engraved and inlaid motifs.
Related instruments
The Byzantine lyra (Latin: lira) was a pear-shaped bowed string instrument. The Persian geographer Ibn Khurradadhbih (d. 911) was the first to describe the Byzantine lyra as a typical Byzantine instrument (Margaret J. Kartomi, 1990).
Variations of the instrument (sharing the same form and method of playing) exist through a vast area of the Mediterranean and the Balkans. Examples are the Bulgarian Gadulka, the Calabrian Lira in Italy, the lyra of Crete and the Dodecanese, the Lijerica of the Croatian Adriatic.
^"Middle East Focus" (PDF). The Strad: 50–2. July 2007. The Persian word for bow is kaman, and kamancheh is the diminutive form.[dead link]
Bibliography
Margaret J. Kartomi: On Concepts and Classifications of Musical Instruments. Chicago Studies in Ethnomusicology, University of Chicago Press, 1990.
The New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments: Londra, 1984.
M. Nazmi Özalp: Türk Sanat Mûsikîsi Sazlarından Kemençe, Ankara, tarihsiz (1985'ten önce).
Laurence Picken: Folk Musical Instruments of Turkey, Londra, 1975.
Rauf Yekta: Türk Musikisi (çev: Orhan Nasuhioğlu), İstanbul, 1986.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Klasik kemençe/Polítiki lýra.
Kemençe
Video
Classical kemençe video
August 20, 2023
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For instruments also called Kemence see Kemenche The classical kemenche Turkish Klasik kemence Armudi kemence pear shaped kemenche or Politiki lyra Greek politikh lyra Constantinopolitan lyre is a pear shaped bowed instrument that derived from the medieval Greek byzantine lyre String instrumentClassificationstringedHornbostel Sachs classification321 321 Necked bowl lute Related instrumentsByzantine lyra Gadulka Calabrian Lira Cretan lyra LijericaIt was mainly used by Greek immigrants from Asia Minor and in classical Ottoman music The instrument was also used earlier for popular music such as early Smyrna Style Rebetiko and played till nowadays It has become the main bowed instrument of Ottoman classical music since the mid 19th century Contents 1 Etymology 2 Playing 3 Construction 4 Related instruments 5 Notable kemence and lyra virtuosi 6 See also 7 References 8 Bibliography 9 External links 9 1 VideoEtymology EditThe name Kemence derives from the Persian Kamancheh and means merely small bow 1 The name lyra derives from the name of the ancient Greek lyre and was used in medieval times see Byzantine lyra Playing EditExternal video Neva Ozgen demonstrates the kemenceIt is played in the downright position by resting it between both knees or on one knee when sitting It is always played braccio that is with the tuning head uppermost The kemenche bow is called the yay Turkish Yay and the doksar Greek do3ari the Greek term for bow The strings are stopped by touching them by the side with the nails like for many folk fiddles from Southeastern Europe to the Indian sub continent including the Indian sarangi Construction Edit Smyrna style trio K Lambros R Eskenazi A Tomboulis Athens 1930 Its pear shaped body elliptical pegbox and neck are fashioned from a single piece of wood Its sound board has two D shaped soundholes of some 4x3 cm approximately 25 mm apart the rounded side facing outwards The bridge is placed between one side resting on the face of the instrument and the other on the sound post A small hole 3 4 mm in diameter is bored in the back directly below the bridge and a back channel sirt olugu begins from a triangular raised area mihrap which is an extension of the neck widens in the middle and ends in a point near the tailpiece kuyruk takozu to which the gut or metal strings are attached There is no nut to equalize the vibrating lengths of the strings The pegs which are 14 15 cm long form a triangle on the head the middle string being 37 40 mm longer than the strings to either side of it The vibrating lengths of the short strings are 25 5 26 cm All the strings are of gut but the yegah string is silver wound Today players may use synthetic racquet strings aluminium wound gut synthetic silk or chromed steel violin strings Formerly the head neck and back channel might be inlaid with ivory mother of pearl or tortoise shell Some kemences made for the palace or mansions by great makers such as Buyuk Izmitli or Baron had their backs and even the edges of the sound holes completely covered with such inlays with engraved and inlaid motifs Related instruments EditThe Byzantine lyra Latin lira was a pear shaped bowed string instrument The Persian geographer Ibn Khurradadhbih d 911 was the first to describe the Byzantine lyra as a typical Byzantine instrument Margaret J Kartomi 1990 Variations of the instrument sharing the same form and method of playing exist through a vast area of the Mediterranean and the Balkans Examples are the Bulgarian Gadulka the Calabrian Lira in Italy the lyra of Crete and the Dodecanese the Lijerica of the Croatian Adriatic Notable kemence and lyra virtuosi EditFahire Fersan 1900 1997 Tamburi Cemil Bey 1873 1916 Derya Turkan Sokratis Sinopoulos Labros Leontaridis Ihsan Ozgen Cuneyd Orhon Rusen Ferit KamSee also EditByzantine lyra Cretan lyra Gadulka Gudok Ghaychak Gusle Rebab Kamancheh Kobyz Rebec Igil Byzaanchy Huqin Violin familyReferences Edit Middle East Focus PDF The Strad 50 2 July 2007 The Persian word for bow is kaman and kamancheh is the diminutive form dead link Bibliography EditMargaret J Kartomi On Concepts and Classifications of Musical Instruments Chicago Studies in Ethnomusicology University of Chicago Press 1990 The New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments Londra 1984 M Nazmi Ozalp Turk Sanat Musikisi Sazlarindan Kemence Ankara tarihsiz 1985 ten once Laurence Picken Folk Musical Instruments of Turkey Londra 1975 Rauf Yekta Turk Musikisi cev Orhan Nasuhioglu Istanbul 1986 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Klasik kemence Politiki lyra KemenceVideo Edit Classical kemence video Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Classical kemence amp oldid 1159599726, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
