Shah Kaman

Shah Kaman - 2003

Background

This design was developed in collaboration with the Iranian Master Kamancheh player Kayhan Kalhor. The prototype was made in 2003, with the design being finalised in 2008. Kalhor named the instrument Shah Kaman, which translates into English as King of Kamanchehs. The shah kaman requires additional tuning, otherwise all traditional kamancheh techniques can be used. The shah kaman began as an instrument with 5 playing strings and 7 sympathetic strings, with the sympathetic strings running in a channel under the fingerboard. Subsequently the stringing was reduced to 4 playing strings (tuned within either violin or viola general pitch range).

 For a story about the development of the shah kaman see here