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Turkish traditional instruments are broadly classified into four main
categories namely:
1. String Instruments (those played by fingers and plectrum):
These include Baglama, Saz and Tar
2. Wind Instruments: These include Cifte, Sipsi, Tulum, Mey,
Cigirtma, Kaval and Zurna
3. Bow Instruments: These include Kemence, Karadeniz and
Kabak Kemane
4. Percussion Instruments: These include Kasik, Tef, Nagara
and Davul
Kemence
This is a Turkish three-stringed musical instrument that
resembles a violin played using a bow. It originated back in 11th
century when Seljuk Turks colonized Persia and Anatolia. Kemence is
the familiar name for two different musical instruments, one being
used in the northern Anatolian fork music, while the other one is
used in the Turkish classical music.
Way back in history, it used to
be referred to as "fasil kemence" and "pearshaped kemence" until
mid-19th century when it adopted the name "classical kemence"
Classical kemence is approximately 40-41 centimeters long and
14-15 centimeters wide, with all its strings gut apart from the
yegar string that is silver-wound. Currently, certain musicians use
the synthetic racquet strings, artificial silk strings, chrome-wound
violin steel strings, or aluminum-wound gut.
Kemence's shape resembles a pear that is bisected. The head
is threaded into an oval shape with the stem curved out of a single
piece of wood. It has two D-shaped holes within its body located
outside its rounded edges. It also has a back trough on its rear
sides.
The sound post that transmits strings' vibration to its back
is fixed between the back part of the instrument under Neva string
and the bridge. Kemence is the highly adorned musical instrument
amongst the Turkish instruments.
When playing this musical instrument, you have to hold it
upright by resting it on your knees with the pegs leaning
perpendicularly against your chest. Alternatively, you can hold it
in front of you while standing. The strings are 7-10mm above the
bridge. Unlike other stringed instruments, you need to press the
strings using your fingertips to produce sound. Instead, you simply
need to slide your fingernail gently down the strings. Kemence has a
distinct sound, almost primitive.
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