# Kamancha — Instrument 🇦🇿

> Bowed string instrument. Azerbaijani / Persian / Caucasian classical. Vocal-like expressive sound.

## Type
Bowed spike fiddle. Ancestor of Western violin.

## Origin
Persian-Caucasian classical tradition. Used in Azerbaijani mugham, Persian classical (kamancheh), Armenian music.

## Construction
- Spherical body (often coconut-shell or wood)
- Long neck
- 4 strings (modern Azerbaijani)
- Spike at base (rests on player's knee)
- Bow held differently than Western

## Range
~3 octaves.

## Sound character
- Vocal-like (sings)
- Expressive
- Can be soulful or dramatic
- Microtonal capable
- Sustained notes with vibrato

## Playing styles
### Mugham
- Vocal-instrumental dialogue
- Improvised ornaments
- Bowing creates "singing" line

### Solo
- Virtuoso improvisation
- Mugham modal exploration

### Ensemble
- Part of mugham trio (with tar + daf)
- Folk ensembles

## Genre fit
- Azerbaijani mugham (essential, in trio with tar)
- Persian classical (called kamancheh)
- Caucasian folk
- World music fusion
- Cinematic Middle Eastern

## Famous kamancha players
- Habil Aliyev (master)
- Imamyar Hasanov
- Modern: Kayhan Kalhor (Iranian, world fusion)

## For Suno
```
[Kamancha: Azerbaijani bowed spike fiddle, vocal-like expressive line, 
microtonal ornaments, mugham style accompanying tar, traditional]
```

```
[Kamancha: Persian classical kamancheh solo, slow Sufi mystical, 
sustained emotional notes]
```

## When to use
Azerbaijani / Persian / Caucasian classical. Mugham contexts. Cultural music. Replaces violin for cultural authenticity.
