Kurdish Music

Music performed in the Kurdish and Zaza-Gorani languages by the Kurdish people of Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and other parts of Asia. Despite being secondary to vocals, Kurds use many instruments in traditional music. Musical instruments include the tembûr (fretted string instrument), baglama (a long-necked ‘oud), qernête (double-reed instrument), duduk (a double-reed woodwind made of apricot wood), kaval (end-blown flute), long flute, kemenche (bowed instrument), zirne (oboe), and dahol (drum). Originally the music was melancholic and elegiac, but it has since incorporated more upbeat and joyous melodies.