The Music and Musical Instruments of Southern India and the Deccan c11.199

c11.199

The Santir, already mentioned as a Persian instrument, is also to be found occasionally. It, like the quanūn, is a kind of dulcimer, but has a great many more strings than the former, and is generally played by being struck with two sticks covered with leather or felt. Both these instruments are to be found in Afghanistan, Turkey, Persia, and Egypt, as well as Arabia. The Indian Quanūn and Santir do not differ much from the Egyptian and Arabian forms, drawings of which can be found both in Lane's "Modern Egyptians" and Mr. Carl Engel's "Musical Instruments." The Svaramándala here drawn is from Cashmere. The tuning pins are turned by means of an iron key, and the tension of the strings is usually very high. The beautiful decoration and the delicacy of the painting with which this instrument is so profusely adorned are evident.