Qanun is in the form of a vertical trapezoid. The tallest side (more than 1 meter) of this trapezoid is near to the player and the shortest one is far from the player. The right side (near 40 cm) is upright to the parallel sides that were mentioned before and the left side cut the parallel sides diagonally. There is a hole on the right part of it in the shape of a square and in the size of 40.15 cm. The hole is covered by a solid skin or some pieces of skin.
Qanun has 26 sounds and every three same tuned strings make the same sound. Its strings are fixed on the right part of the instrument and drawn on the bridge and all along the instrument. Every three strings pass from a device that is designed for a temporary tuning up. Every string has an ear that is connected to the main tune. The temporary tuning up device in the Egyptian Qanun helps the player to tune up fast. This device also helps player to produce all the chromatic sound of eastern and Iranian music.
Qanun’s note is usually written on two carrier line (top line is for the right hand and is written with treble clef and the bottom line is for the left hand and is written with Fa clef). The player should use picks that is like a nail for picking the strings.
Instructor:
- M.A. in Music Performance from Tehran Art University
- Hediye Malekpoor learned to play Qanun under the supervision of the most prominent maestro of Qanun in Iran, Parichehr Khaje. She also learned the theory of music including solfege, harmony, and analysis under the supervision of maestros: Sharif Lotfi, Amir Hossein Islami, Mohammad Ali Kiani Nejad, Mohsen Hajjarian, Hooman Asadi, Hamidreza Ardalan, Reza Shafi’iyan and….
- Gain the first place in the CUTTACK MAHOTSAV India Dance and Music Festival 2012
- Collaboration with Nahoft group in the recording of “Basic Instruction of Tar and Setar” album. It is based on the collection of Rouhollah Khaleqi with Jahanshah Saremi as director and under the supervision of Hossein Alizadeh.
- Participation in the 16th International Festival of Traditional Performances, Qanun, Tehran, 2013.
- The joint performance of Setar and Qanun at CUTTACK MAHOTSAV, India International Festival of Dance & Music in 2012.
- Participation in various music festivals in Iran and in foreign countries.