Lavta
Encyclopedia
The lavta is a plucked string instrument from Istanbul. It has a small body made of many ribs using carvel
bending technique, looking like a small (Turkish) ud, gut strings like an ud but only 7 strings in 4 courses and tunable: A dd gg c'c' (like the ud), or sometimes A dd aa d'd' (in intervals of 5ths like laouto
as well as 4ths). The adjustable frets are tied bits of gut on the fingerboard, at the microtonal intervals of the makam
system, a significant difference from both fretless ud and 12-frets to the octave laouto
, making its fretboard more related to instruments like tanbur
. The bridge usually has mustache-shaped ends. The fingerboard is flush with the soundboard, which is often unvarnished, and has a carved and inlaid rosette. Some lavta have a pegbox like the ud (angling down), others more like a guitar
(or like a buzok or Greek laouto
). The tuning pegs are shaped like those of the violin
, with 3 on the right side and 4 on the left side of the open tuning head.
Known as lavta in Turkish, also occasionally called Politiko Laouto (Lute from Constantinople
) in Greek
, is an instrument that was popular in the early 20th century, particularly among the Greek
and Armenian communities of Istanbul, but also the Turkish community, it was one of the many instruments played by noted Turkish master Tanburi Cemil Bey
. It was gradually replaced by the ud and survived only among Turkish classical musicians. From the 1980’s there has been a revival of interest in this instrument, and now you can find the lavta again both in Turkey and in Greece.
Right hand technique is similar to an oud, with a long thin plectrum.
Carvel
Carvel is an ice cream franchise owned by Focus Brands. Carvel is best known for their soft serve ice cream and ice cream cakes, which feature a layer of distinctive 'crunchies'. It also sells a variety of novelty ice cream bars and ice cream sandwiches....
bending technique, looking like a small (Turkish) ud, gut strings like an ud but only 7 strings in 4 courses and tunable: A dd gg c'c' (like the ud), or sometimes A dd aa d'd' (in intervals of 5ths like laouto
Laouto
The laouto is a long-neck fretted instrument of the lute family, found in Greece, and similar in appearance to the oud. It is played in most respects like the oud .- Construction :...
as well as 4ths). The adjustable frets are tied bits of gut on the fingerboard, at the microtonal intervals of the makam
Makam
Makam In Turkish classical music, a system of melody types called makam provides a complex set of rules for composing and performance...
system, a significant difference from both fretless ud and 12-frets to the octave laouto
Laouto
The laouto is a long-neck fretted instrument of the lute family, found in Greece, and similar in appearance to the oud. It is played in most respects like the oud .- Construction :...
, making its fretboard more related to instruments like tanbur
Tanbur
The term tanbūr can refer to various long-necked, fretted lutes originating in the Middle East or Central Asia. According to the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, "terminology presents a complicated situation. Nowadays the term tanbur is applied to a variety of distinct and related...
. The bridge usually has mustache-shaped ends. The fingerboard is flush with the soundboard, which is often unvarnished, and has a carved and inlaid rosette. Some lavta have a pegbox like the ud (angling down), others more like a guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(or like a buzok or Greek laouto
Laouto
The laouto is a long-neck fretted instrument of the lute family, found in Greece, and similar in appearance to the oud. It is played in most respects like the oud .- Construction :...
). The tuning pegs are shaped like those of the violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, with 3 on the right side and 4 on the left side of the open tuning head.
Known as lavta in Turkish, also occasionally called Politiko Laouto (Lute from Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
) in Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, is an instrument that was popular in the early 20th century, particularly among the Greek
Greek diaspora
The Greek diaspora, also known as Hellenic Diaspora or Diaspora of Hellenism, is a term used to refer to the communities of Greek people living outside the traditional Greek homelands, but more commonly in southeast Europe and Asia Minor...
and Armenian communities of Istanbul, but also the Turkish community, it was one of the many instruments played by noted Turkish master Tanburi Cemil Bey
Tanburi Cemil Bey
Tanburi Cemil Bey , was a Turkish tanbur, yaylı tanbur, kemençe, and lavta virtuoso and composer, who has greatly contributed to the taksim genre in Ottoman classical music...
. It was gradually replaced by the ud and survived only among Turkish classical musicians. From the 1980’s there has been a revival of interest in this instrument, and now you can find the lavta again both in Turkey and in Greece.
Right hand technique is similar to an oud, with a long thin plectrum.
Sources
- http://www.atlasofpluckedinstruments.com/middle_east.htm
- http://193.92.9.19/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=69&Itemid=96&lang
See also
- LaoutoLaoutoThe laouto is a long-neck fretted instrument of the lute family, found in Greece, and similar in appearance to the oud. It is played in most respects like the oud .- Construction :...
- RudRudThe rud is a Persian stringed musical instrument. In Persian, the word means "string". It has been mentioned in classical Persian literature by Rudaki, Hafez, Naser Khusraw, Sanai, Ferdowsi, Nizami and Qatran Tabrizi other poets...
- ShahrudShahrudShahrud is classified as a "short-necked lute." The word sehrud is of Persian origin, derived from the words sah-i rûd meaning "king of lutes/large lute." Though Al-Farabi included an illustration of the sehrud in his Kitâbü'l Musiki, it is very difficult to determine particulars from this drawing...
- KobzaKobzaThe kobza is a Ukrainian folk music instrument of the lute family , a relative of the Central European mandora...