All About Ethnic Musical Instruments

If we need to explain ethnic music in general, we can say that it is a type of music that belongs to the culture of a particular region, people, and community. The music played in ethnic music perfectly reflects the culture of that region. In addition, more importantly, the songs played in ethnic music are thanks to the instruments that the people of the area made with their own hands in ancient times. Even musical instruments reflect the culture of that region to us. We call them ethnic musical instruments.

Music is universal. Music translates our feelings. In rhythms and melodies, we find the inner me. Of course, the genres that each individual is interested in music are different, so one of the most beautiful genres that makes it easier for us to find ourselves with its local timbre and instrument designs is ethnic music. Just as ethnic music belongs to a place, the instruments that make this music play belong to the same region. The materials used in the structure of these musical instruments also take us directly to the area where they originate.

What Are Ethnic Musical Instruments

Music is a universal language, and therefore people enjoy listening to it and cannot give up. Since ethnic music includes music belonging to the societies and regions, ethnic music also introduces the community to which it belongs. In ancient times, ethnic music was played only by society, so due to the development of technology, the beginning of inter-communal communication, the widespread use of the internet, and the spread of international festivals and fairs, ethnic music began to be listened to by different societies and different cultures.

Every society has its ethnic musical instruments. For example, when Turkish ethnic musical instruments are specified, the first thing that comes to mind is the Tulum and kemençe, which belongs to the Black Sea region, when Iran is called qanun, tombak, santur, and setar, when Philippine is specified, flat gongs, bamboo cymbals, flaps, percussion pipes in the form of feathers, brass Jewish harps, and when Arabia is mentioned, darbuka and When def and Syria are mentioned, zurna, qanun, and kemençe come to mind. The tone of each musical instrument is different from the other. The timbre of the music makes us dream about that region and takes us to the past. Likewise, the Turkish kemençe and the Syrian kemençe are different in terms of both design and tone of voice. Rhythms carry traces from the region.

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Common Features Of Ethnic Musical Instruments

Just as ethnic music carries traces of the region where it originated, ethnic instruments reflect the area effectively. The design and production of ethnic musical instruments were made of whatever materials the possibilities allowed. In the Philippine region, most instruments are made from bamboo wood. Whatever they have in common, they are made for both fun and pleasure.

What Are The Ethnic Musical Instruments

When thinking about the unique music of geography, societies, and areas, the musical instruments they use to produce that music should also be considered. Ethnic musical instruments differ from region to region. Some countries may have the same instruments but have name differences. The sounds they make are different from each other. Since ethnic music belongs to the culture of a community, it is played with musical instruments belonging to the region. We can also examine communities with sub-headings.

1.Turkish Ethnic Musical Instruments

Every culture has its sound, rhythm, and melody. The sounds and traces left by several continents and civilizations have created diversity in the lands and this diversity has been passed down from generation to generation and has survived to the present day. Turkey is very rich in both art and music. As a result of the efforts of the people who lived in this region, many musical genres have emerged, and many instruments have been developed for these genres. As the conditions got better, a new one was added on top of the existing one. Ethnic musical instruments vary from region to region in Turkey. It is possible to talk about ethnic instruments such as kemençe and drum in the Black Sea region, zurna, bağlama, and saz in the eastern area, and tambourine in another city.

2. Persian Ethnic Musical Instruments

Iran has a wide range and ethnic diversity in the field of music. It is possible to talk about the existence of a large number of musical instruments unique to Iran. Nations in different regions of Iran prefer to use several musical instruments in terms of both the design and sound characteristics of the instruments. Lifestyles and available opportunities have contributed to the emergence of various musical genres and instruments. Since there are a variety of musical instruments in Iran, we can divide them into the string, percussion, and wind instruments. Tar, tanbur, and Setar, and Kamenche string instruments, Tonbak and Daf percussion instruments, and wind instruments such as ney are just a few of the ethnic musical instruments unique to Iran.

Tar is one of the most recognizable musical instruments to play. Tanbur is made from the mulberry tree. It has an elongated paint and pear shape. It has a soundboard with a thickness of three or four millimeters. Another instrument is the santur. Santur is Iran's most popular and well-known ethnic instrument. Santur has many features. You can get heavy sounds with santur. Thanks to these features, santur is also used in many regions.

3.Filipino Ethnic Musical Instruments

Philippines music is a society that loves to have fun and dance. Music is involved in almost all of their lives. While they are so interested in music, they have always paid the same attention to the instruments that will perform this music. The Philippines has a unique sense and style of music. Philippine music is always at the forefront with its melodies, rhythms, and instrument choices. When it comes to Philippine musical instruments, instruments made of metal and wood come to mind.

Instruments such as flat gongs, bamboo cymbals, flaps, feather-shaped percussion pipes, and brass Jewish harps are popular in the Philippines. They use these musical instruments in various rituals, festivals, and different events. When it comes to ethnic musical instruments in the Philippines, instruments such as the nose flute, qanun and guitar come to mind, but the names of these musical instruments are different in this region. In addition, they differ from other musical instruments in the sounds they make. The biggest reason why it is ethnic is that it has a unique sound and design to the region.

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4.Arabic Ethnic Musical Instruments

In Arab culture, percussion and wind instruments are used. The reason for this is that they lived a nomadic life in the old times, so they would do the same thing over and over again in order not to have any difficulties in transporting them from one place to another. they did not bother to carry the existing. As they modernized, they began to develop new instruments. When it comes to Arab ethnic musical instruments, the first thing that comes to mind is Oud, Ney, Qanun, and Violin. It is the most popular four main ethnic instruments of the region. 

Under normal conditions, the oud is an instrument that exists in every nation, but in Arab society, this instrument is very, very different in terms of both size and sound. Qanun's design is also unique to the region. It differs in size. On the other hand, the violin is a fretless instrument and is an indispensable ethnic instrument for Arabs because it has no frets. In this way, Arabs find the opportunity to play all melodies. Another ethnic instrument is the darbuka. When it comes to darbuka, Arabs come to mind directly. It is one of the most valuable rhythm instruments for Arabs.

5. Syrian Ethnic Musical Instruments

Syria has been affected by many nationalities in terms of musical instruments. Most of his instruments were produced by different nations. In ancient times, people moved from region to region from these instruments and preserved their existence because they were in constant migration. Of course, it did not remain as it was when it moved from area to area. People of the city added new things to it or tried to produce another one inspired by the existing one.

For example, the kemençe exists in both eastern and western cultures. The different aspects of the kemençe in Eastern and Western cultures are the sound produced and the materials used in the construction phase. It is possible to consider the Syrian kemençe as an ethnic instrument. Another instrument is the zurna, which falls under the category of wind instrument. The zurna is very common in Eastern culture, and this instrument still exists in the Syria region. It was succeeded by drilling holes on any tree. These types of ethnic instruments are exclusively handcrafted.

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