Silk Road Sounds: the Santur

The santur, also known as a hammer dulcimer, is one of the main instruments of Iranian music with roots dating back as far as 1600 b.c.e. Its flat trapezoid body has 72 strings that are struck with two delicate felt-covered hammers called mezrab.

By the time he was 10, Silk Road Ensemble member Siamak Aghaei was playing the santur. It’s an easy instrument for a beginner, he said, because a novice can produce the correct tones.

But mastery is another story. The virtuoso santur player produces light, glistening tones by striking the instrument with blinding speed and precision. “I had a dream of the sound of the santur, and in that dream the sound was like drops of water, like rain,” said Aghaei.