Kemenche

For the related Persian instrument, see Kamancheh. For the village in Pest country, Hungary, see Kemence.
Kemençe of the Black Sea
Classical kemençe

Kemenche (Turkish: kemençe, Persian : کمانچه) or Lyra is a name used for various types of stringed bowed musical instruments originating in the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly in Greece, Armenia, Iran, Turkey, and Azerbaijan.[1] and regions adjacent to the Black Sea. These instruments are folk instruments, generally having three strings and played held upright with their tail on the knee of the musician.[2] The name Kemenche derives from the Persian Kamancheh, meaning a "small bow".[3]

  1. ^ McCollum, Jonathan (2014). "Kamancha." New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments. Second Edition. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199743391.
  2. ^ Hugo Pinksterboer, Tipbook: Cello (2002), p. 106.
  3. ^ "Middle East Focus" (PDF). TheStrad.com: 50–52. July 2007. The Persian word for bow is kaman, and kamancheh is the diminutive form.[dead link‍]