Benju
A benju is a type of zither fitted with a keyboard, commonly used in the music of Balochistan and Sindh.
Construction and play
It is about 1 meter long, 10 –12 cm wide and the soundbox is about 5 cm high, with six strings. Strings 1 and 2, 5 and 6 are used as bordun (drone) strings and tuned to the tonic and the fifth or fourth. In relative pitch C and G or F. The middle strings 3 and 4 are tuned unison to F or G, and they are fretted and can be shortened by pressing down the metal keys. The scale is chromatic from G to A, B flat or B. The right hand plays the strings by using a wooden or plastic plectron, the left hand is fingering the keys.
The benju is played mainly as a solo instrument accompanied by dholak and tamburag. Sometimes it is combined with sorud.
External links
- Anne Hytta: Dag, Kveld, Natt. (Sound recording review)
- BalochistanMusic blog
- Mohammad Taghi Mas'udiye. Sâzhâ-ye irân.
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