How the kemençe of the Black Sea makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the kemençe of the Black Sea belongs to the lutes: strings run parallel to a soundboard and along a neck – the family of the guitar, violin, sitar and oud.
More broadly it is one of the chordophones (string instruments), where sound comes from vibrating strings, amplified by a resonating body.
Players shape its sound through technique and materials; the resonating body filters the raw vibration, boosting some harmonics and damping others.
From Wikipedia
The Kemençe of the Black Sea or Pontic Lyre (Turkish: Karadeniz kemençesi, Greek: Ποντιακή λύρα Pontiakí lýra, Laz: Çilili (ჭილილი), Armenian: քամանի Qamani, Pontic: lyra) is a traditional musical instrument. It belongs to the category of stringed bowed musical instruments. It has three strings, usually tuned to perfect fourths, usually tuned B-E-A. The instrument is historically and currently played by Turkish and Greek folk artists from Turkey and Greece. The instrument is made of different types of wood.
Other lutes
Frequently asked questions
What does a kemençe of the Black Sea sound like?
As one of the lutes, its sound comes from the way strings run parallel to a soundboard and along a neck.
What type of instrument is the kemençe of the Black Sea?
It is classified as lutes (Hornbostel–Sachs 321.322-71).
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q12060981 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Kemençe of the Black Sea – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by @rent – CC BY-SA 3.0