Silk Road Instruments

santur
[SAN toor] orig. Iran

The santur is a struck zither, also known as a hammer dulcimer. It has a flat trapezoid-shaped body with seventy-two strings arranged so that three strings are struck at the same time to make each pitch. The player strikes the strings with two delicate felt-covered hammers called mezrab. The virtuoso santur player produces light, glistening tones by striking the instrument with blinding speed and precision.

The earliest predecessors of the modern santur may date back to 1600 B.C.E. and it is one of the main instruments of Iranian music. It is played solo and in ensembles in the improvisatory musical tradition of maqam [mah KOM].