Ghijak


The ghijak, is a group of related spike fiddles, used by Afghans, Uzbeks, Uyghurs, Tajiks, Turkmens, Qaraqalpaks and in the Xinjiang province of western China. Despite the similarity of the name, it is more closely related to the Persian kamancheh than the ghaychak.

History

The instrument name appears in 10th-century manuscripts, which indicate that the bridge was made of almond shells. The ghidjak as depicted in 15th-century Persian miniatures resembles the modern instrument in its construction.

Xinjiang

The ghijek as it is used in Xinjiang has four strings, either with a bowl soundbox, or with a box soundbox often made from a tin can. One of Xinjiang's most prominent ghijek players is Akram Omar, from Kashgar.