qānūn

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qānūn

musical instrument

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Learn about this topic in these articles:

- stringed instrument
  The zither
  …a plucked trapezoidal zither, the qānūn (derived from Greek kanōn, “rule”). The present-day instrument has a range of three octaves with three strings to each pitch, and a complex system of levers by which its many strings may be finely and quickly retuned to the various Arab scales. Closely related…
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  …a plucked trapezoidal zither, the qānūn (derived from Greek kanōn, “rule”). The present-day instrument has a range of three octaves with three strings to each pitch, and a complex system of levers by which its many strings may be finely and quickly retuned to the various Arab scales. Closely related…
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- Islamic arts
  Stringed instruments
  Another plucked instrument is the qānūn, or trapezoid-shaped psaltery, played at least from early medieval times. The trapezoidal dulcimer, or sanṭūr, the strings of which are struck with two thin sticks, is widespread and is especially prominent in Persian art music. Bowed lutes, or fiddles, include the rabāb, used by…
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  Another plucked instrument is the qānūn, or trapezoid-shaped psaltery, played at least from early medieval times. The trapezoidal dulcimer, or sanṭūr, the strings of which are struck with two thin sticks, is widespread and is especially prominent in Persian art music. Bowed lutes, or fiddles, include the rabāb, used by…
  Read More