Santur facts for kids
The Santur (Persian: سنتور) is a traditional musical instrument from Iran. You might also hear it called santoor or santour. It's a type of hammered dulcimer, which means you play it by hitting strings with small hammers.
The Santur usually has 18 small wooden pieces called bridges (Persian: خرک). There are 9 bridges on the left side and 9 on the right. Each bridge holds four strings. This means a typical Santur has 72 strings in total!
Players use two small wooden sticks called mezrabs (Persian: مضراب) to hit the strings. The strings are usually either white or yellow, and they create different sounds. The yellow strings in the first position often give a certain tone, while the white strings in the second position and the yellow strings behind the bridges create other unique sounds.
The Santur's Journey Through Time
The Santur was first created and developed in the ancient lands of Iran and Mesopotamia (which is modern-day Iraq). From there, this amazing instrument traveled to many different parts of the Middle East.
As the Santur moved from country to country, people in each place made their own versions. They changed its design to fit their unique musical styles and tunings. The very first Santurs were quite simple. They were made from tree bark and stones, and their strings were even made from goat intestines!
Many musical instruments around the world are thought to be related to the Mesopotamian Santur. These include the harp, the Chinese yangqin, the harpsichord, the qanun, the cimbalom, and the hammered dulcimers found in America and Europe.
Famous Santur Players
Many talented musicians have played the Santur. Here are a few well-known artists:
- Ardavan Kamkar
- Faramarz Payvar
- Parviz Meshkatian
- Pashang Kamkar
Images for kids
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A Chalghi Santur player
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Ali Bahrami-Fard playing in Vahdat Hall
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How to hold your hands when playing the Santur
