Name of Object:

Qanun

Location:

Beirut, Lebanon

Holding Institution:

Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music

 About The Lebanese University, Beirut

Date of Object:

19th century

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Wood

Dimensions:

H: 4 to 6cm, L: 95 to 100cm, W: 38 to 40cm

Provenance:

Lebanon

Description:

The qanun is a traditional instrument of the Middle East, whose name in Arabic also means "rule, principle or norm". It has a range of three octaves, and today it is made with nylon or PVC strings are stretched over a single bridge, poised on fish-skins on one end, and attached to tuning pegs on the other. Turkish models have 26 sets of triple strings. It rests on the player's lap and is played by plucking, either with the player's fingernails or with two tortoise-shell plectrums.

Type of Object

Musical instrument; woodwork

Citation of this web page:

Jeff El-Msanne, Hassan El Masri, Remy Nader "Qanun" in "Sharing History", Museum With No Frontiers, 2026.
https://sharinghistory.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;AWE;lb;123;en

Prepared by: Jeff El-Msanne, Hassan El Masri, Remy Nader
Copyedited by: Flaminia Baldwin

MWNF Working Number: LB 140