Percussion instruments
Zil (cymbals)
A round metal instrument, usually of brass, held by the handles in its centre and played by striking one against the other.
In brief
- Family: Percussion; metal discs clashed together or struck with a beater
- Earliest evidence: Seen in Sumerian, Hittite, Egyptian and Greek depictions; in Central Asia made of copper-tin alloy
- Body and materials: Bronze or brass; the Zildjian family has cast cymbals in Istanbul since 1623
- Dimensions: Dance cymbals about 5 cm; mehter cymbals much larger, orchestral cymbals 14–22 inches
- Playing: Two cymbals are clashed; in the mehter there are two holds, upright (mehterhâne) and slanted
- Music: Mehter, tekke music, dance tunes, dance; today orchestra and drum kit
- Other names: Arabic sanj (sınc); çeng, çan in old sources
- 16th–17th centuries: Evliya Çelebi names the zil but does not describe it; cymbals were played in military music and in dervish ceremonies[1, 2]
Listen
History
A very old usul instrument of Turkish music and the Middle East; in Arab countries it is known as sagat. Cymbals of various sizes are played in the mehter; in some Sufi lodges small hand cymbals also accompany zikr and hymns.
Construction
It consists of two round metal discs with a raised centre, held by leather or cord handles in their middle. The small cymbals used in dance music are about 5 cm across; mehter cymbals are much larger.
How it is played
One cymbal is held in each hand, or small cymbals are worn on the fingers; they are played by striking them together or touching their edges.
Its place in makam music
It marks the strokes of the usul with a bright ring. It differs from the halile in size and setting: the halile is a large pair of cymbals specific to the Mevlevi âyin, while the zil is usually smaller and is played in many settings, from the mehter to zikr and from folk dance tunes to dance.
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 Zil (cymbals)
What is the difference between the zil and the halile?
Zil is the general name for metal instruments made in very different sizes and played in many settings: from small finger cymbals worn by dancers to large mehter cymbals. The halile, on the other hand, is a large, thin pair of cymbals specific to the Mevlevi âyin. In other words, every halile is a zil, but most of the zil family has nothing to do with the âyin.
Why are Turkish cymbals famous?
Ottoman cymbal makers worked brass and bronze alloys with forging and annealing techniques to produce bright, long-ringing cymbals. The roots of Zildjian, one of the world's best-known cymbal brands today, go back to 17th-century Istanbul. The tradition of handmade cymbals still continues in Istanbul, and these cymbals are sought after by jazz and orchestral musicians.
How are finger cymbals played?
The small cymbals are held with elastic or leather loops worn on the thumb and middle finger of each hand. The cymbals are clashed by bringing the fingers together, or touched at their edges to produce short sounds. Dancers and players repeat the usul pattern with the cymbals, distinguishing düm and tek strokes with different sounds.
Where can I hear the zil?
The “Listen” section on this page has sound samples taken from real zil recordings. Since the zil is a rhythm instrument rather than a melodic one, in the site's usul practice you can listen to usuls with percussion instruments such as the darbuka, bendir, tef, davul or kudüm.