Bowed instruments
Bowed tanbur (yaylı tanbur)
Bowed tanbur (yaylı tanbur): The bowed variety of the tanbur; with its long fretted neck and round body, it is held upright when played. In the early 20th century Tanbûrî Cemil Bey pioneered this variety by playing the tanbur with a bow. Later Ercüment Batanay and Fahrettin Çimenli developed the instrument into its present form.
In brief
- Family: Bowed string instrument; the bowed form of the plucked tanbur
- Origin: Istanbul, early 20th century; popularised through the playing of Tanburi Cemil Bey
- Body and materials: Wooden bowl or a metal body like a cümbüş; skin or wooden soundboard
- Strings: Usually 6 strings (4 courses); 7- and 8-string models also exist
- Tuning / range: About two octaves; can reach two and a half octaves with the middle string
- Playing: Held upright on the knees and played with a bow like that of a kemençe or cello
- Notable players: Ercüment Batanay, Fahrettin Çimenli (added the soundpost), Sadun Aksüt
Listen
History
In the early 20th century Tanbûrî Cemil Bey pioneered this variety by playing the tanbur with a bow. Later Ercüment Batanay and Fahrettin Çimenli developed the instrument into its present form.
Construction
It has the long, thin, fretted neck and the round, staved body of the plucked tanbur, adapted for playing with a bow. The frets tied to the neck are placed according to makam intervals.
How it is played
Its body rests on the knee, the neck is held upright and it is played with a bow similar to that of the kemençe; the fingers of the left hand press the string on the frets.
Its place in makam music
Since its frets are tied according to makam intervals, as on the tanbur, the commas are stopped accurately. Because the bow sustains the sound, it gives a deep tone close to the human voice in taksims and slow pieces.
Getting started: types, sizes, tuning
Start with this instrument
Masters on recordings
Performers who play this instrument on recordings of works in the score archive (MusicBrainz).
Frequently asked questions about the Bowed tanbur (yaylı tanbur)
What is the difference between the bowed tanbur and the plucked tanbur?
Both have the same long, fretted neck with frets tied according to makam intervals. The plucked tanbur is played by striking the string with a plectrum, and its sound fades quickly. The bowed tanbur, being played with a bow, can sustain the sound as long as desired and make legato transitions between pitches. That is why the bowed tanbur sounds more song-like, and the plucked tanbur more percussive and clear.
What is the difference between the bowed tanbur and the kemençe?
Both are held upright and played with a bow, but the bowed tanbur has a very long, fretted neck, while the kemençe's is short and fretless. On the bowed tanbur the right comma comes ready-made with the frets; on the kemençe the finger finds it. The bowed tanbur's sound is lower, deeper and more dignified; the kemençe has a higher, more nasal timbre.
Why is the bowed tanbur rarely heard?
It is a relatively new instrument: it appeared at the beginning of the 20th century, and the number of makers and teachers has always remained small. Its long neck and large body make it hard to carry, and combining bowing technique with tanbur frets requires special practice. Nevertheless, it is loved in taksims and slow pieces for its deep timbre; the tradition continues thanks to the efforts of a few performers.
Where can I hear the bowed tanbur?
The “Listen” section on this page has sound samples taken from real bowed tanbur recordings. The bowed tanbur has not yet been added as a virtual instrument; to try the same fret layout you can play the virtual tanbur in your browser, and for a bowed timbre the virtual classical kemençe.