Sorna

The sornā or Sarnā (Persian سورنا, سُرنا "sornā", also سورنای, سُرنای "sornāy", also "Surna" and "Zurna") is an ancient Iranian woodwind instrument.

Infobox Instrument
name=Sorna
names=


classification=Double reed
range=
related=
*Shawm
*Rhaita
*Suona
*Sopila
*Zurna
*Mey (instrument)

Etymology

The word "sorna" is a Pahlavi derivative of sūrnāy (literally "strong flute"), which is a compand of 'sūr-' (strong) and '-nāy' (flute). [MacKenzie D. N., A Concise Pahlavi Dictionary, London (1971), p.78 - ISBN 0 0-19-713559-5.] Possibly it was called "strong flute" due to its double-reed-construction rather than usual "nāy", which was made of a single tube of cane. Also it is suggested that the first part of word of "sorna", is from "sūr-" again from Pahlavi and New-Persian, meaning the "banquet, meal and feast", thus the "banquet-flute". [MacKenzie D. N., A Concise Pahlavi Dictionary, London (1971), p. 78 - ISBN 0 0-19-713559-5.]

It is also suggested that "Sorna" is a congnate of "Horn", as "Sorna" simply means horn. This is similar to Sindh and Hind, as Hind is the way Iranians pronounced the name of the Sindh river. Even in Persian there is another wind instrument that its name seems to be a cognate of both "Sorna" and "Horn", it is called "Carna" (کرنا). Even though, many people believe what mentioned in the previous paragraph is correct but the second opinion seems to be more accurate.

Historical background

The instrument's history dates back to the Achaemenid Dynasty (550-330 B.C.E.), and was used to play at the end of the day from the city gate or from the local administration building. This custom persisted in England until the 19th century, the town waits playing shawms to mark the hours. The instrument was mainly played in outdoors in regional music of Iran in the festive ceremonies (the famous Persian poet Molana Rumi has mentioned the "sorna" and "dohol" in his poems).

The Achaemenid "sorna" was a large trumpet-like instrument, but in later dates was reduced in size, and became more like (shrill oboe), or "dozale" (double oboe), which is characterized by a turned wood body of simple shape, with a heavily flared bell. The earlier was categorized as a trumpet, but this was a mistaken idea based on the bell of the oboe and the freeblowing embouchure that often gives a superficial resemblance to a brass embouchure, particularly if the oboe is fitted as so many are with a lip ring. [Pope U., "An Outline History of Persian Music and Musical Theory", in Survey of Persian Art, Vol. VI, pp. 2783-2804.]

According to the Shahnameh, it was King Jamshid who devised the Sornā. [Pope U., "An Outline History of Persian Music and Musical Theory", in Survey of Persian Art, Vol. VI, p. 2784.] Except the literary evidences, there are also number of artefacts from Sasanian dynasty (224-651 CE), depicting Sorna, such a silver dish, currently in Hermitage Museum. [Farmer, "Studies in Oriental Musical Instruments", 2nd ser., London (1926), pp69-86.]

Function

A small amount of air is forced under pressure through a small metal tube called the staple which serves to hold the reed and match it to the bore. This requires the player to make sure, as in oboe playing, that one also empties the lungs of stale air when taking a new breath.

Often sornas were played in pairs, with a melody and a drone player. This drone may move to different notes during a piece of music, changing at prescribed places in the composition.

Several other names, such as "dohol", "davul", "tavel", and so on have been applied to the "sorna". Since dohol is a double-faced drum sometimes it is called "do-rūyeh" in Persian language, in contrast to "ghaval" and "daf", which are "yek-rūyeh" (one-faced).

There are several Persian proverbs about the "sorna". The most famous proverb that many poets have been used in their works is: "آواز دهل شنیدن از دور خوش است" ("Āvāz-e-dohol shenidan az dur khosh ast")", which literally means "Sorna/Dohol sounds pleasant from a distance".

Korna

The Korna is an ancient and historical instrument which is made and played differently In various provinces Iran. The main types of the Korna (an Iranian instrument of the sorna family) are those in the north ciran,Gilan and Mashhad. The Korna is mostly played in Kordestan and Azarbaijan.

ee also

*Zurna

References