A Musical Anthology Of The Orient -- Afghanistan

*** Afghan musical instruments are numerous and diverse; among the most important one should mention the following: Tumbur -- a plucked lute, different from the Iranian instrument of the same name. This instrument resembles the Indian sehtar and is used as a solo instrument as well as to accompany singing. Dambura -- used in the North, it is a small two-stringed lute. Dotar -- a three-stringed lute. Rabab -- this plucked stringed-instrument in Afghanistan is very different from the rabab-s in Iran, India and Indonesia. Ritchak -- this is a two-stringed, bowed instrument, popular in the North, and resembling in its technique, Medieval instruments of the Occident. Sarinda -- a bowed instrument of South Afghanistan, it is used like a gypsy violin, whose ancestor it might well be. Dhol -- a large drum with two sides, it resembles the Indian instrument of the same name. Zer-barhali -- a portable, one-faced drum, it is exactly like the Persian dumbak. Doirah -- or tambourine, is also just like the Persian instrument. We should also mention the cheng, or Jew's harp, known all over the Orient, the tula or flute, and the sornai, which is similar to the Indian sahnaï. The harp, the principal instrument in the ivory sculptures of Begram (2nd century) is found today only in Nuristan, in the southern part of the Pamir.