(Persian tar by Afshari ET-202)
The tar, derived from the Persian word for string, is a long-necked instrument belonging to the lute family. It is widely utilized across various cultures and regions, including Iran, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Georgia, Tajikistan, Turkey, and other areas in the Caucasus and Central Asia.
The tar underwent revisions in the 18th century, resulting in its current sound range. It has since remained a significant musical instrument in Iran and the Caucasus, particularly in Persian and Azerbaijani classical and folk music traditions, being favored for radifs and mughams.
Characterized by its double-bowl shaped body carved from mulberry wood, the tar features a thin membrane covering the top. In the Persian variation, the membrane is stretched lamb-skin, while in the Azerbaijani variant, it’s made from an ox membrane. The fingerboard typically houses twenty-five to twenty-eight adjustable gut frets.
The Persian tar includes three double courses of strings, spanning approximately two and a half octaves. Its long, narrow neck terminates in an ornate peg box equipped with six wooden tuning pegs of varying dimensions.
In terms of string configuration, the Persian tar is equipped with three courses of double “singing” strings and one “flying” bass string. Each string is independently tuned, with the addition of a sixth string introduced by Darvish Khan.
Modes of play involve plucking the instrument at the center of the body using a small brass plectrum, known as a mezrab (Persian) and mizrab (Azerbaijani), and selecting notes by placing fingers on the fingerboard. Various techniques, such as tremolos and trills, contribute to the instrument’s expressive capabilities.
Leading male tar players: Afshin Faramarzi; Amin Ramin; Arjang Sayfizadeh; Ali Qamsari; Bahram Saed; Behruz Hemati; Dariush Talai; Emad Hanife; Erfan Ganje’i; Farhang Sharif (1931 – 2016); Farokh Mazhari; Gholamhossein Bigjekhani (1918-1987); Hamid Khabazi; Hamid Sokuti; Hasan Amin Sharifi; Homayun Yazdani; Hossein Alizadeh; Iman Vaziri; Jahansh Sarami; Jalil Shahnaz (1921-2013); Kay Khosro Purnazeri; Majid Derakhshani; Maziyar Shahi; Mehrdad Delnavazi; Meqdad Shah Husseini; Mohammad Jamal Samavati; Mohammad Reza Lotfi (1947-2014); Mansur Sinaki; Padideh Ahrar Nejad; Payam Jahanbani; Salman Salek; Sanaz Satarzadeh; Shahram Mirjalali; Shahriyar Faryusefi; Siyamak Nemat Naser; Tahmures Purnazeri; Vahid Basam; Zaydolah Tolo’i.
Notable women who play the tar: Sahba Motallebi, Bahare Fayazi, Piraye Purfar, and Azar Zargariyan.
Tar Books
Tar Book: Persian Plucked String Instrument by Ashkan Ghafouri.
Tar Maker: How to Make a Tar: Crafting the Persian Instrument by BeHnam KhodaRahmi.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.