The Kanun is a stringed folk instrument of Turkey and dates back to
2575-2134 BC. It is widely used in the Middle Eastern countries for
classical music. It is a descendant of the Babylon harp and the
Egyptian harp. It is a plucked zither with a trapezoidal narrow
sound box. It is played on the lap and has a range of three and a
half octaves. It is derived from a Greek word and means law or
principle.
The Turkish Kanuns have twenty six courses of strings. Three
strings are present per courses which are plucked either by using
plectrums (attached to index finger using metal ring) or
tortoise-shell picks. Special latches, called Mandals (small tuning
levers) are present per course. The pitch can be altered by changing
the length of the strings by raising or lowering the mandals during
playing.
These strings are made up of poly vinyl chloride (PVC) or nylon.
They are stretched over the surface of a wooden box on one end and
attached to tuning pegs on the other. The upper surface is made out
of Sycamo wood and the lower surface is made out of pine wood.
Maple wood is used for making the bridge. White pine wood and Rose
wood are used for making designs on the surface and on the sides.
The pego locks and tuning pegs are made of of rose wood. The sound
box is covered by a calf leather, giving the Kanun a rich resonance.
Kanun is related the ancient Greeek Psaltery and zither. It
was the only stringed musical instrument of old Egyptian kingdom.
They were invented during the first half of the twentieth century.
The name Kanun was first used during the Abbasids period and was
mentioned in "The Arabian Nights". The kanun was given its recent
shape by Abe Nasr Al Farabi.