Santur

About the Sound and Character

The sound of the santur is crystalline, ringing, ethereal, and very rich due to the simultaneous vibration of multiple strings. The melody seems to “float” in the air, leaving a long reverberating trail.

Structure and Features

A trapezoidal flat walnut box. It is strung with 72 strings (4 strings per pitch, resting on small wooden bridges). The musician plays with two lightweight wooden mallets (mezrab) held between the index and middle fingers.

Genres

• Classical Persian and Indian music
• Sufi ambient
• Historical soundtracks