Balaban (instrument)

Wind instrument

Balaban

Azerbaijani folk instrument Balaban[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Woodwind instrument
Classification|  Double reed
Playing range
Related instruments
Closely related instruments include the Mey (Turkey), Yasti Balaban (Dagestan), Duduki (Georgia), Duduk (Armenia), Hichiriki (Japan), Piri (Korea), Guanzi (China), and Kamis Sirnay (Kyrgyzstan)
Musicians
Alihan Samedov
Craftsmanship and performing art of balaban/mey

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

Country| Azerbaijan and Turkey
Reference| 01704
Region| Europe and North America
Inscription history
Inscription| 2023 (18th session)
List| Representative
Balaban in Azerbaijan State Museum of History

Balaban or balaman[7] (Azerbaijani: Balaban – بالابان; Persian: بالابان) is cylindrical-bore, double-reed wind instrument about 35 centimetres (14 in) long with eight finger holes and one thumb hole. This instrument is played in the eastern part of Iran's historic Azerbaijan region as well as in the Republic of Azerbaijan (where it is also called Düdük according to the Encyclopædia Iranica).[6] Balaban, Mey, and Duduk are almost identical, except for historical and geographical differences.[8]

Balaban can be made of mulberry or other harder woods, such as walnut. The bore through the instrument is about 1.5 centimetres (0.59 in) in diameter. The double reed is made out of a single tube of cane about six cm long and pressed flat at one end. The performer uses air stored in his cheeks to keep playing the balaban while he inhales air into his lungs. This “circular” breathing technique is commonly used with all the double-reed instruments in the Middle East.

Balaban can be found in regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey. It is sometimes used as Balaman, Mey or Whistle, among Azerbaijan and Turkistan in the West Azerbaijan region.

Consisting of a body (govda) and a mouth-worn flat reed mouthpiece, Balaban is 280-300 millimeters long and 20-22 millimeters in diameter. The sound is dull and light, and because it is weak, it is mostly played in closed spaces and room meetings. Thanks to the clamp on the reed, the sound can be thinned and thickened. The cane, flattened by a special method, consists of a clamp and a body. By pushing the grapple upwards or downwards on the reed, one-curtain sound change can be made and it can adapt to the instrument groups immediately. Another type of Balaban is used in ashiq music. Alihan Samedov is a famous Azerbaijani balaban artist.

## Structure

[edit]

Balaban, which is often called also yasti (flat) balaban for flat mouthpiece and soft sound, consists of body made of apricot wood, cane, barrow and cover. The body has 8 holes on the surface and 1 on the back in the middle of the first and second holes (sound fret) on the surface.[9] It consists of a stem, a reed, a regulator, and a cap.[10]

The stem of the balaban, or govda, is a 280–320 millimetres (11–13 in) cylindrical tube made primarily of apricot wood (sometimes hazel, pear, mulberry, boxwood, etc.). The process of carving a balaban stem is called balaban chakma. The upper end of the stem (bash or kup) is given a round shape, whereas the lower end (ayag) is sharpened. The bore is 10 millimetres (0.39 in) in diameter. Eight holes or "tones" constituting a "sound tone" (sas pardasi) are made on the obverse and another one is made on the bottom side, opposite of the interval between the first and the second holes of the sas pardasi. Sometimes an additional hole called nizam pardasi is made on the lower end of the bottom side to ensure good timbre.[10]

The holes made on the stem are classified as follows:[10]

Sound tone– sas pardasi | Functional  | #1 – first tone– bash parda

|
|

#4 – main tone – shah parda
#6 – open tone– achyg parda
#8 – bottom tone– ayag parda
rear – back tone– arkha parda
Tonal  | #2 – tone of segah – segah pardasi (1)
#5 – tone of segah – segah pardasi (2)
#7 – tone of mahur – mahur pardasi
Acoustic  | bottom – tone of balance – nizam pardasi

The reed (gamish, garghy or dil) made of club-rush that grows in an arid area is inserted into the upper end. It flattens and takes the shape of a double reed. It is tied to a 60 millimetres (2.4 in) long and 10 millimetres (0.39 in) wide regulator (kharak, boghazlig, boyundurug, ulama, akma) made of a willow or grape branch cut lengthways. The reed is then fixed by a collar-like regulator on one side and a 7–12 millimetres (0.28–0.47 in) pivot on the other side. The cap (qapaq, aghizlig, kip, band, etc.) made of willow, hazel, cornel or mulberry is put on the reed to prevent it from damage. It is tied to the regulator in order not to be lost.[10]

## History

[edit]

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In the region; Balaman is also called Yasla Balaman, flat Balaman.

* Balaman in Black Hearts.

Balaban first used in Azerbaijan orchestra since 1931, when the Folk Instrument Orchestra was established in Azerbaijan. It is used to accompany songs in Turkmen and Kurdish cities such as Erbil, Süleymaniye, Kirkuk. Balaban, which has a warm sonority, is often used as a companion to the songs of heaven and bendir and Aşık. Kudüm and defle can also perform a duet, and are also performed solo. 2 The balaban plays together, while someone gives a sound, and someone plays the melody. It has origin in Caucuses and has been adopted by Azerbaijani music.

## Use

[edit]

On solemn occasions such as weddings and holiday ceremonies, a balaban-player is accompanied by a percussionist. A traditional Azeri musical group consisting of two balaban-players and a percussionist is called balabanchilar dastasi. The short selection of Azerbaijani mugham played in balaban, national wind instrument was included on the Voyager Golden Record, attached to the Voyager spacecraft as representing world music, included among many cultural achievements of humanity.[11] It was also used in pastoral songs and funeral music. According to Huseyngulu Sarabski, hunters played the balaban to attract quails. Certain types of the balaban are also used in ashik music.[10]

## Legacy

[edit]

Kamil Jalilov's recording of the song with balaban was included on the Voyager Golden Record, attached to the Voyager spacecraft as representing mugham, only Azerbaijani song included among many cultural achievements of humanity.[12][13][14][15]

## Gallery

[edit]

* Ashuq plays balaban (right) in Baku. The Lute to the left is a Bağlama.

* Azerbaijani musical instruments (including balaban) on the stamp of USSR, 1990

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Толковый словарь русского языка Кузнецова. 1 е изд е: СПб.: Норинт. С. А. Кузнецов". Archived from the original on 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
2. ^ "БАЛАМАН в музыкальной энциклопедии". Music-dic.ru. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
3. ^ "Atlas of traditional music of Azerbaijan". Atlas.musigi-dunya.az. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
4. ^ "Статьи, обзоры и лонгриды о главном на iz.ru | Известия". Iz.ru. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
5. ^ Сергей Александрович Токарев. Основы этнографии: Учеб. пособие для ист. специальностей вузов.. — Высшая школа, 1968. — С. 311. — 359 с.
6. ^ a b Encyclopaedia Iranica. Balaban. Archived 2011-08-05 at the Wayback Machine: «BĀLĀBĀN, a cylindrical-bore, double-reed wind instrument about 35cm long with seven finger holes and one thumb hole. It is played in eastern Azerbaijan in Iran and Soviet Azerbaijan (where it is also called düdük).»
7. ^ Музыкальная энциклопедия. Баламан. Под ред. Ю. В. Келдыш. Т 1. А — М.: Советская энциклопедия, 1973.
8. ^ A COMPARATIVE VIEW OF THE MEY, BALABAN AND DUDUK AS ORGANOLOGICAL PHENOMENARetrieved February 28, 2022.
9. ^ Chandrakausika, R. A. M. (2012-11-18). "The Music Of Azerbaijan". A World's Heritage of Native Music. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
10. ^ a b c d e Charming Sounds of the Balaban Archived 2018-08-11 at the Wayback Machine by Saadat Abdullayeva
11. ^ Chandrakausika, R. A. M. (2013-03-05). "مقام The Music Of Azerbaijan Vol-02 مقام". A World,s Heritage Of Native Music. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
12. ^ "AZƏRBAYCANDA BALABAN SƏNƏTİNİ ÖYRƏNƏN AMERİKALININ İNDİ 80 TƏLƏBƏSİ VAR (Balaban ustadı Babaxan Əmirovun dedikləri)". mediaforum.az (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 2014-05-14. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
13. ^ "In Search of Extraterrestrials: Azerbaijani Music Selected for Voyager Spacecraft by Anne Kressler". Azer.com. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
14. ^ "APA - Azerbaijani mugham sent out to outer space 32 years ago". Archived from the original on 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2014-05-13.
15. ^ "Voyager - Spacecraft - Golden Record - Sounds of Earth". NASA. Retrieved 2009-05-25.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Balaban (instrument) at Wikimedia Commons
* Ch. Albright. BĀLĀBĀN. Iranica.
* Mey-Duduk-Balaban | Müzik Öğretmenleri Sitesi
* Balaban, Duduk and Mey (video)

* v
* t
* e

Double reed instruments

(also includes those with quadruple and sextuple reeds; does not include bagpipes)

European classical
(modern)|

* Piccolo oboe
* Piccolo heckelphone
* Oboe
* Oboe d'amore
* Cor anglais (English horn)
* Bass oboe
* Heckelphone
* Lupophon
* Contrabass oboe
* Tenoroon
* Bassoon
* Semi-contrabassoon
* Contrabassoon
* Contraforte
* Contrabassophone
* Reed contrabass
* Sarrusophone
* Rothphone
* Tromboon

European classical
(historical)|

* Aulos
* Baroque oboe
* Bassanello
* Cornamuse
* Cromorne
* Crumhorn
* Dulcian
* Hirtenschalmei
* Kortholt
* Oboe da caccia
* Pommer
* Rackett
* Rauschpfeife
* Shawm

African traditional|

* Algaita
* Rhaita
* Zukra

Asian traditional|

* Balaban
* Duduk
* Guan
* Gyaling
* Hichiriki
* Hne
* Kèn
* Kèn bầu
* Kèn đám ma
* Kuzhal
* Mizmar
* Nadaswaram
* Ottu
* Pi
* Piri
* Shehnai
* Sundari
* Sorna
* Sralai
* Suona
* Taepyeongso
* Tangmuri
* Zurna/Surnai

European traditional|

* Aulos
* Bifora
* Birbynė
* Bombard
* Catalan shawm
* Dulzaina
* Graïle
* Gralla
* Musette
* Piffero
* Sopila
* Tárogató
* Zurna
* Surma-horn

American traditional|

* Chirimía
* Trompeta china

* v
* t
* e

Azerbaijani musical instruments

String instruments|

Bowed instruments
Chagane
Kamancheh
Plucked instruments
Kanun
Chang

Çeng

Saz
Komuz
Shahrud
Rud
Mugni
Tar (Azerbaijani instrument)
Choghur
Nuzhe
Struck instruments
Santur

Woodwind instruments|

* Zurna
* Tulum
* Balaban
* Kaval
* Tütek
* Ney
* Miskal

Percussion instruments|

Auxiliary Percussion
Bendir
Boyuk nagara
Cura nagara
Daf
Davul
Dümbek
Naqareh
Kus
Nagara
Spoon
Laggutu
Qoltuq nagara

Possibly extinct|

* Bülban

See also|

* Azerbaijani Music
* Mugham

* v
* t
* e

Iranian musical instruments

Stringed
(Sāzhāy-e Zehī)|

| Bowed|

* Ghazhak
* Kamāncheh
* Classical kemençe

|

Plucked|

* Barbat
* Chang
* Harp
* Dotār
* Qānūn
* Robāb
* Sāz
* Nuzhe
* Setār
* Tanbūr
* Yaylı tambur
* Kurdish tanbur
* Tār
* Azerbaijani Tar
* Ūd
* Shahrud
* Rud
* Mugni

Struck|

* Santur

Experimental|

* Sallāneh
* Shurangiz
* Sorāhi

Woodwind
(Sāzhāy-e Bādī)|

| Exposed|

* Sornā
* Zurna
* Balaban
* Karnay
* Narmeh-ney
* Donali
* Dozaleh
* Kaval
* Ney anban

|

End-blown|

* Haft Band
* Nāy (Ney)
* Sheypur
* Zurna
* Pisha
* Miskal

Brass

| Natural|

* Nafir

|

Percussion
(Sāzhāy-e
Kūbeheyī/Zarbī)|

| Auxiliary|

* Darāy
* Daf
* Dohol
* Dāvūl
* Dāyereh Zangī
* Naqāreh
* Tonbak (Dombak)
* Kūs
* Sanj
* Dammam
* Zarb
* Zang
* Zarbang Udu

|

Afghan traditional music
Azerbaijani traditional music
Kurdish traditional music
Persian traditional music
Tajik traditional music

* v
* t
* e

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage elements in Azerbaijan

* Azerbaijani mugham (2008)
* Art of Azerbaijani ashiq (2009)
* Traditional art of Azerbaijani carpet weaving (2010)
* Craftsmanship and performance art of the tar (2012)
* Traditional art and symbolism of kelaghayi, making and wearing women's silk headscarves (2014)
* Copper craftsmanship of Lahij (2015)
* Dolma making and sharing tradition, a marker of cultural identity (2017)
* Nar Bayrami, traditional pomegranate festivity and culture (2020)
* Pehlevanliq culture: traditional zorkhana games, sports and wrestling (2022)

Shared|

* Novruz (Azeri · 2009)
* Flatbread making and sharing culture: Lavash, Katyrma, Jupka, Yufka (2016)
* Art of crafting and playing with kamancha (2017)
* Heritage of the Book of Dede Gorgud, epic culture, folk tales and music (2018)
* Art of miniature (2020)
* Sericulture and traditional production of silk for weaving (Azeri · 2022)
* Culture of tea, a symbol of identity, hospitality and social interaction (Azeri · 2022)
* Telling tradition of Molla Nasraddin anecdotes (2022)
* Craftsmanship and performing art of balaban (2023)
* Craftsmanship of mother of pearl inlay (2023)
* Iftar and its socio-cultural traditions (2023)
* Art of illumination (2023)

Need of Urgent Safeguarding|

* Chovgan, a traditional Karabakh horse-riding game (2013)
* Yalli (kochari, tenzere), traditional group dances of Nakhchivan (2018)

Authority control databases: National |

* United States
* Israel

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