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Source Description
<em>Kamānche</em> is a Persian term first used in the 10th century to describe an instrument that is sounded with a bow. From there, bowed instruments spread to Byzantium, Central Asia, the Far East, and then to Europe. In Egypt, it is known as the <em>rabāb</em>, a term known throughout the Islamic world from North Africa to Southeast Asia.<br> <br>The names of musical instruments often reveal origin, context, or musical function. In Europe, North Africa, and Asia where contact with Middle Eastern culture occurred, variations of Arabic and Persian terms for instruments are widespread. Usually, related names refer to similar instruments; however, this is not always true. Among these "floating terms" are the names <em>zūrna</em>, rabāb, <em>kāmanja</em>, <em>nāy</em>, and <em>dombak</em>.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
98654
label
Kamānche (incomplete)
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
98654
contentType
object
title
Kamānche (incomplete)
description
<em>Kamānche</em> is a Persian term first used in the 10th century to describe an instrument that is sounded with a bow. From there, bowed instruments spread to Byzantium, Central Asia, the Far East, and then to Europe. In Egypt, it is known as the <em>rabāb</em>, a term known throughout the Islamic world from North Africa to Southeast Asia.<br> <br>The names of musical instruments often reveal origin, context, or musical function. In Europe, North Africa, and Asia where contact with Middle Eastern culture occurred, variations of Arabic and Persian terms for instruments are widespread. Usually, related names refer to similar instruments; however, this is not always true. Among these "floating terms" are the names <em>zūrna</em>, rabāb, <em>kāmanja</em>, <em>nāy</em>, and <em>dombak</em>.
date
1875–1900
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q79485171
genreSpecific
Musical Instrument
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 58.5 x 26.8 cm (23 1/16 x 10 9/16 in.)
cul
Northern Iran (Caucasian, maybe Azerbaijan, or Kashmir)
accession
1918.353
Source extras
tec
Wood, hide, and bone
tombstone
Kamānche (incomplete), 1875–1900. Northern Iran (Caucasian, maybe Azerbaijan, or Kashmir). Wood, hide, and bone; overall: 58.5 x 26.8 cm (23 1/16 x 10 9/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Charles G. King Jr. collection; Gift of Ralph King in memory of Charles G. King Jr., 1918.353
collection
Islamic Art
didYouKnow
The instrument's spike would be placed on the ground or today, on the knee, when it was played.
citations
citation
"Accessions." <em>The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art </em>vol. 5, no. 8/9 (1918): 82-85.
page_number
Mentioned: p. 82
citation
D. S. M. "Exhibition of Musical Instruments." <em>The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art</em> 8, no. 9 (1921): 134-43.
page_number
Mentioned: pp. 134-137
creditline
The Charles G. King Jr. collection; Gift of Ralph King in memory of Charles G. King Jr.
updatedAt
2026-05-29 05:19:33.115000
sourceId
98654
dept
Islamic Art
coll
Islamic Art
med
Wood, hide, and bone
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
2033be87cbce2b49