Instruments
Santouri, Sandouri, Cimbalom
Photo: Demetri Tashie
Classification: Chordophone - struck stringed instrument
Description:
Theofilos
The santouri is a stringed instrument in the hammered dulcimer family. Each course of strings consists of between 3 and 5 strings. The strings are struck by special padded mallets held between the fingers.
Possibly derived from the ancient lyra or the Byzantine psaltry, different variations of this instrument exist in many places. In Persia and India they are called santur and santoor.
In Hungary, Romania and other areas there is a more elaborate version called the cimbalom. It is also used extensively in klezmer music, where it is known as a tsimbl.
Videos - a few examples:
Aristidis Moshos
- Video 1
- Video 2