Description: The santur is a chordophone classified as a dulcimer. In Persian classical music the santur is either played solo, or used in accompanimant with voice, and other instrumentation (in particular with ensembles). The name santur means (san - "100" / tur "strings"). Other dulcimers though of slightly different constructions do have relations to the santur these are the German "hackbret", and the Hungarian, Romanian Cymbalum, Ukrainian, Moldavian Cymbal, or the Chinese Yanchin, also the piano is a distant cousin to the dulcimer in which both are struck with hammers. The dulcimer is also played in British Folk Music, as well as North American folkmusic. The santur has a range of three octaves, and is also tuned by both the use of a key to adjust the metal tuning pegs. And also the use of movable bridges.

Abstract History: In ancient history both the assyerians and babylonians had stone enscriptions "tablets" in which discussed stringed instruments and one instrument in particular resembling of what one would call the dulcimer.This was about 966 years before the birth of Christ. In analogue just as the harp is believed to have its origins in ancient Egypt and spread its self through the silk road and the like.

Regional influence of Santur: In Turkey, the santur is often played with saz, oud, doumbek and so on or as a solo instrument. In Greece the instrument is called Sanduri which is played in the island of Lesbos and also in Northern mainland Greece by a few players, a Greek CD label FM records has a CD of the sanduri though more do exist for this instrument. Again the santur is either played solo or in Greek music accompanied by violin, sometimes, guitar or lauto (lute),and percussion.

In Persian classical music the santur is played solo, or accompanied with voice, or an ensemble of instruments, aka tonbak (zarb), tar, voice, kamencha, barbat and so on. The Persian santur has 76 strings in its current form. Each course of strings is a total of four strings. The hammers used for the Persian santur are very light in weight. This is deliberate in which the player has great dynamic control over the santur in playing-textures, technique and so on.

In India the santur has its origins in Kashmir in which was popularized by the world-renouned Shiv-Kumar Sharma. Who he plays a modified kashmiri santur in which became the current Indian santur in which we see today in India. This form of santur is only found in Northern India or "Hindustan".

Citations: Santur.com (Persian santur); ney-nava.com santur article; Santur article by Kereshmeh Records.com;