Sanj: Iran musical instrument

The sanj is a metallic percussion musical instrument that is analogous to the cymbal, but it is much bigger in diameter. The musical instrument is in the form of cup-shaped plates or bell-shaped plates. Other names of the musical instrument are Zang Chalab and Boshqabak.

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There are many theories about the name of this musical instrument, but sometimes for sure it is a Pahlavi word. By some accounts, the name of the instrument means weight and it is possible that the original name for the musical instrument was sanjkub meaning striking weight. By some other accounts, the name of the instrument is reform version of the Zang, referring to the belle-shaped plate.

The musical instrument was made up of normally cup and sometimes bell-shaped round plates of different alloys, mainly brass or thin. The earliest record of the usage of this musical instrument in the Persian literature is of Ferowsi’s masterpiece, Shahname. The musical instrument was referred to as a military instrument and was used by the legendary Iranian King, Q-mars.

In Hamzehnameh that draws upon an enormous range of myth, literature and history, refers to the musical instrument as the instrument of Q-mars. In other Persian literary works of Safavid era, the musical instrument was used as a lamentation musical instrument, specifically during the Ashura. The musical instrument gradually was used in the ‘stone beating’ symbolic rite that is still prominent in many parts of the Iran accompanied by special songs.

During the Ashura festivals, usually two pieces of stones are beaten on the sides of the mourner by special ways and movements accompanied by lamentation melody. Apparently because of the physical damage caused by the stones on the body, wood sticks are simultaneously replacing the use of stones. Lately rather than to use stone beating, some other terms like the sanj playing, Karbzani or Karebzani and ratchets are used.