Kus

"This article is about the musical instrument. For the Mesopotamian god see KusInfobox Instrument
name= Kus
names=


classification= Percussion instrument
range=
related=
articles=
*Timpani
*Naqareh
*NakerA Kus (Persian کوس "kūs") is a large-sized ancient Persian kettledrum, similar to a timpani.

Etymology

Kus is a Middle-Persian military term meaning, "march". According to Von Mohl the term was "Kūša", and seemingly, borrowed from Aramaic, probably during the Arsacid dynasty (248 BCE-224 CE). [Von Mohl J., (ed. trans.), Firdausi, "Le Livre des rois", Paris (1831-68), pp137, 178.]

Historical Background

It seems the instrument was invented during the Achaemenid dynasty (550-330 B.C.E.) of Iran for military purposes.Fact|date=July 2007

The instrument was a pair of drums, made of clay, wood or metal in the form of a hemispherical kettle, with skin stretched over the mouth of it. Kus was played with drumsticks of leather or wood (The leather drumstick was called Daval). Kus usually was carried on horseback, camelback or elephant during the wars to encourage the army. The instrument was also played in many occasions such as festivals, weddings and decamping. In ancient times, Kus was accompaniment by Karnay (Persian trumpet or horn). Particularly the Persian epic poets Ferdowsi and Nezami for describing the war fields have mentioned to Kus and Karnay in number of entries. [Pope U., "An Outline History of Persian Music and Musical Theory," in Survey of Persian Art, Vol. VI, pp. 2783-2804.] Many Persian miniatures paintings show the presence and importance of the Kus and Karnay in the war fields. According to the Greek historians, drum belonged to Persians, and Plutarch tells of the Iranian warriors at the time of Arsacid dynasty were using Kus as warlike instruments. [Plutarch, "Crassus", chapter XXiii, 10]

Apparently after the introduction of Islam the word "Naghghāreh" has been used to mention to small-sized kettledrums. It seems that the word Naghghareh comes from the Arabic verb "Naghr-" that means to strike and to beat. A few poets have mentioned the name Naghghareh such as the great Persian mystic poet Molana Jalal al-Din Rumi.
*Kus-e-Ashkebus: Kus attributed to Ashkebus, famous commander of King Afrasiyab mentioned in masterpiece Shahnameh of the famous poet of Persia, Ferdosi.
*Kus-e-dolat: Kettledrum to be played during the victories.
*Kus-e-id: Kettledrum to be played during id (festival).
*Kus-e-Iskandar: Kus attributed to Iskandar.
*Kus-e-jang: Kettledrum used in wars in order to embolden and encourage the soldiers.
*Kus-e-khaghani: Kettledrum for Khaghan (title of Chinese emperors).
*Kus-e-Mahmudi: Kettledrum attributed to King Mahmud Ghaznavi.
*Kus-e-rehlat: Kettledrum to be played during the decamping.
*Kus-e-ruyin: Kettledrum with brazen body.
*Kust: Another name of Kus mentioned in Shahnameh of Ferdosi.

References

ee also

*Naqara
*Nagara (Drum)
*Naker

External links

[http://musicalconfrontations.com/MC5/wlc/mcb/cul/mim/mfl/mtm/foc/JNS/jns0000000002.htm History of the Kus, from ancient times until the 18th century; in German: Janissary instruments and Europe]