Instrument Index

The violin (called kamanja or kaman in Arabic) was incorporated into the Arabic ensemble toward the end of the 19^th century and replaced indigenous varieties of fiddles like the kamanja, rababa, and jowza. While the argument can be made that the violin is the most obvious example of an Arabized instrument, it has long been naturalized, and has acquired its own tuning, playing technique and ornamentation style. The Arabic violin's sound is as esential to Arabic music as that of the oud and the qanun.

Although various tunings are used, the traditional Arab tuning is in fourths and fifths (G3, D4, G4, D5.) As a fretless instrument, the violin can produce all shades of intonation of the Arabic maqam system.

The Arabic violin's playing style is highly ornate, with slides, trills, wide vibrato, and double stops, often using an open string as a drone. The Arabic violin's timbre ranges from rich and warm, similar to the sound of the Western violin, to nasal and penetrating.

Explore other traditional instruments:

• The Oud
• The Nay
• The Qanun
• The Buzuq