Instruments of Iran - Epic Talking

00:00 Introduction
00:42 The lute family
19:32 Other stringed instruments
25:09 Wind instruments
29:44 Bowed instruments
31:48 Percussions
33:28 Western instruments

[faryafaraji]

NOTES AND CLARIFICATIONS:
Some in the comments have attempted to claim that the word guitar is directly descended from the name of the Persian instrument "tār". Refutation of this myth on my part has resulted in some emotional and fiery responses, so let's set the record straight.

The word guitar is not derived from the Persian word tār, but descended from the Greek "kithara, " which was a type of lyre. The term "kithara" remained widely used in Europe throughout the Middle-Ages, taking different forms like gittern, guiterre, and finally, its early modern Spanish form "guitarra, " which gives us "guitar."

Whilst there's a possibility that "kithara" itself may have been derived from an Old Persian word containing the same "tar" root meaning a string, other etymological models exist, including "kithara" being derived from an Urartian term "kinnar." None have been proven conclusively so far.

In any case, whilst many Iranians love to promulgate the myth that the word tar directly led to guitar, it's simply not the case. The observable etymological reality is that guitar descends from guitarra, itself descending from medieval names like gittern, guitterne, qitara, medieval names for a variety of instruments, all of those names derived from Ancient Greek "kithara." The origin of "kithara" itself is unkown. As far our current knowledge goes, the "tar" ending on guitar is a superficial coincidence, and constructing a connection out of this resemblance requires ignoring the previous stages of the word where it wasn't as similar.

[indyfan]

At my school, we have a collection of instruments, collected in the 1950s. We have two tars. One is typical, while one was oddly-shaped, having a half-sphere body, and was described as having human baby skin streched over the body.

The new ethnomusicology professor had an Iranian musician look at it, who determined it was actually just lamb skin. The instrument was placed into storage.

[joelkurowski]

"Gimme the Lute Gimme the Lute"
-Safavid Notorious B.I.G.

[nikitsir]

Zournas, kanonaki, la(g)outo - it all seems and sounds so familiar to my Greek eyes and ears. The cultural space-time continuum is so impressive.
[Also, I've never heard anyone play the violin like your late grandfather did - it sounds like a different instrument altogether. Beautiful!]

[rasmusn.e.m]

Aw, no mention of the crazy difficult way they play the ney in Iranian music? Fine, I'll say it: They play it with/against their teeth, and it sounds awesome. I'm only just now learning it, and it's way harder than just playing with your lips.

[balintszabo]

In Hungary our national instrument the tárogató comes from the sorna.

[raifkolbjornson]

Dorud! Fun factoid: (I'm a baglama player) A few years ago a lot of Iranians showed up and in order to be nice and sociable I added some Iranian songs to my repertoire. That went OK for a while and I played a bunch of shows but then I started hearing that baglama is a muslim instrument and I should play a truly Iranian instrument, namely guitar. .... cue speechless jaw drop.

[GrisbaneAddams]

...never before in my life have I had cause to realize how desperately I want to hear a song composed for harpsichord and banjo.

[BeachTypeZaku]

Your channel is the most in-depth I have ever seen concerning Iranian music. At first I thought it was all the same, but your channel has opened me up to realizing that Iranian music is very much in a class of its own

[BlackLotusVisualArchive]

I think my favorite instrument in this family is the Tar, specifically the one played in Azerbaijan, Armenia and Dagestan. It's got such a satisfying sound to it. The Uyghur version, the Kashgari Rubab, is also really cool. Also with the Azerbaijani Nationalist issue, one must remember Azerbaijan was at one point, Northwest Iranian speaking and languages such as Tat and Talysh are still spoken there.


My 2nd favorite is the Sorna, I love anything with a double reed

[nurse.nosrati]

Long live Iran zartoshti❤I love u from Iran

[diegomenchititio]

Ive been chronologically studying the epic talking series as a way to further my musical knowledge and baffled at how much more historical knowledge and understanding your videos bring at least to me, Its as if the years ive just attended in Western Schools has taught little of any history in a way that was cohesive and actively used to understand cultures and not just the wars which Is still important, I appreciate the level of though you put into presenting even your songs with the nuance of your goals with creating the song's and historical backround! Look forward to more of this series!

[JordanSullivanadventures]

I loved seeing the clip of your grandfather playing the violin as a a violinist myself trained in the Western classical style primarily, with a little bit of bluegrass, it's honestly so cathartic to see somebody make dope music by "playing it wrong" Like with the bow skipping across the strings or doing a lot of bouncing, or hitting multiple strings when you're not playing a chord or double stop. I often feel like the rules of Western classical violin are very frustrating and in some ways limiting. I would love to learn how to play violin in Iranian style, I wonder where I could find a teacher in the US.

[orthochristos]

LOL! Love those characters. You always nail them, man!

[Julian_Films]

Sohrab Pournazeri's "The Lords of the Secrets" Album, as well as kayhan kalhor's kamancheh performances is what initially got me into Iranian music and why I started playing Tanboor. Although I can only play at a beginners level its an absolute blast to play around with, and thanks to your wonderful presentation I now know more about its history as well as the other wonderful instrument's of Iran. Also Your grandfather Is super talented, I can see that being absolutely cracked at music runs in the family. Great video as always, cant wait to see more of this series!

[Eugene-tmfm]

Man not only can I enjoy the sound of longed necked lutes, but I can now also know how exactly they work. Thank you Farya!

[Shahanshah.Shahin]

26:43 Sorna or Karna, one of the ancient Persian musical instruments from the Achaemenid era around 6th century BC, pic is from the Persepolis Museum.

[mz_emmet]

my god, the sound of the tar!!!! i will come to iran just to buy one, that's honestly the most amazing sound i have heard in a long time

[lomionaredhelion]

And to say I've been binging your Iranian music lately. That's the perfect timing.

Your 'basic' videos are much appreciated, especially by the noobs like me. But watch my French speaking ass confuse 'tamboor' for drum instead of remembering it means lute 😅

[Ranger_]

فریا جون حرف نداری بخدا همه آهنگ های تاریخی مربوط به ایران رو دانلود کردم عشقی 💕💕