About us
The website *Kamancheh.com* was established with the aim of introducing and expanding knowledge and awareness about one of the oldest bowed string instruments of the East—the kamancheh. The kamancheh has a history spanning several centuries and has deeply rooted itself in traditional, folk, and classical music across various regions of the Middle East and Central Asia. With its spherical body and long neck, this instrument has held a special place in Iranian, Azerbaijani, Kurdish, and Turkish music from the very beginning, evolving dynamically over time with cultural transformations. The kamancheh is not only an instrument of the past but also a resonating voice of authentic music today and in the future.
Today, the kamancheh is played across a vast range of regions, including Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Armenia, and even parts of the Balkans and Central Asia. With a tonal range of approximately three octaves, it can convey complex emotional expressions. Among the most renowned kamancheh players are Abolhasan Saba, Ali-Asghar Bahari, Rahmatollah Badiyi, Ardeshir Kamkar, Kayhan Kalhor, Saeed Farajpouri, Ali-Akbar Shekarchi, Davoud Ganjei, Kourosh Babaei, Sohrab Pournazeri, and Shervin Mohajer—all of whom have played an irreplaceable role in the evolution and global expansion of this instrument. Alongside these musicians, prominent kamancheh makers such as Master Ebrahim Ghanbari Mehr, Ghodratollah Kordi, Bayaz Amirataei, Mohammad Zhaleh, the Mohammadi brothers, Mahmoud Dehkordi, Arash Rahmanian, and many others have contributed to technical and aesthetic advancements. These developments include structural changes such as modifying the taper of the instrument’s neck from thin to thick, introducing mechanical tuning pegs, adding position markers on the back of the neck, designing varying bowl sizes, and incorporating hybrid bodies—all of which enhance sound quality and instrument stability.
One of the key innovations introduced on this website is a highly useful and practical tool called *Kamanyar*. Kamanyar is a specialized stand for the kamancheh, replacing traditional methods of resting the instrument on the lap or a chair. This stand ensures full stability in both seated and standing positions, prevents slipping, improves posture, and provides greater steadiness while playing. Kamanyar is a modern and standardized accessory suitable for students, professional musicians, and kamancheh masters, marking a significant step forward in improving performance quality in both educational and professional settings.
