Al. Spendiaryan Qanon Ensemble: Traditional Armenian Qanon Music
Three performers of the Al. Spendiaryan Qanon Ensemble showcase an iconic instrument.
The qanon, qanun, or kanun is an ancient stringed instrument widely played around the Middle East, North Africa, western Asia, and eastern Europe. It is a type of zither, played while seated. Besides plucking its tuned strings, players also manipulate levers that adjust the strings’ pitch on the fly. The result is a cascading, mellow sound requiring both skill and personal flair from the player.
In this video, courtesy of the Library of Congress, the Al. Spendiaryan Qanon Ensemble demonstrates Armenian-style qanon compositions. Three talented players perform multiple songs, as well as providing some interesting background about the instrument and their history with it. Enjoy!
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