Rubab (instrument)


Rubab, robab or rabab is a lute-like musical instrument used in Central and West Asia. The rubab is one of the national musical instruments of Afghanistan. It proliferated throughout West, Central, South and Southeast Asia. It derives its name from Arabic rebab 'played with a bow'; in Central Asia, however, the instrument is plucked and is distinctly different in construction.

Size variants

The body is carved out of a single piece of wood, with a membrane covering a hollow bowl that provides the sound-chamber. The bridge is positioned atop the membrane. It has three melody strings tuned in fourths, two or three drone strings and up to 15 sympathetic strings. The instrument is made from the trunk of a mulberry tree, the head from an animal skin such as goat, and the strings from the intestines of young goats or nylon.

History

The rubab is known as "the lion of instruments" and is one of the two national instruments of Afghanistan. Classical Afghan music often features this instrument as a key component. Elsewhere it is known as the Kabuli rebab. In appearance, the Kabuli rubab looks slightly different from the Pakistani rubab. It is the ancestor of the north Indian sarod, although unlike the sarod, it is fretted.
The rubab is attested from the 7th century CE. It is mentioned in old Persian books, and many Sufi poets mention it in their poems. It is the traditional instrument of Khorasan and is widely used in countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as the Xinjiang province of northwest China.
The rubab was the first instrument used by Sikhism; it was used by Bhai Mardana, companion of Guru Nanak. Whenever a shabad was revealed to Guru Nanak he would sing and Bhai Mardana would play on his rubab; he was known as a rubabi. The rubab playing tradition is carried on by Sikhs such as Namdharis.

Variants

In Tajikistan a similar but somewhat distinct rubab-i-pamir is played, employing a shallower body and neck. The rubab of the Pamir area has six gut strings, one of which, rather than running from the head to the bridge, is attached partway down the neck, similar to the fifth string of the American banjo.

Notable players