Zurna
previous
next
The Zurna is a double-reed woodwind instrument from Turkey. Its sound is loud and strident, so it is most suitable for outdoor playing. Zurnas are frequently played in pairs. For village celebrations such as weddings, one or two zurnas may be combined with a large drum, or davul. This combination is so well established that in some regions the term davul-zurna actually means "music."
| Family |
| Woodwinds |
| Pitch range |
| About two octaves. |
| Material |
| Wood, usually apricot or peach. |
| Size |
| Varies, but usually 12-14 in (30-36 cm) long. |
| Origins |
| Shawms of this type are played throughout the Middle East. The shawm was known in Persia by the 6th century A.D., and thereafter arrived in various countries following the gradual spread of Islam (A.D. 650-1500). |
| Classification |
| Aerophone: an instrument that produces its sound by the vibration of a column of air. |
| And also... |
| The zurna - once a popular military instrument - is now only used in village festivities. |
