Kus on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
A Kus (Persian language, Persian کوس ''kūs'') is an ancient Persian musical instrument, a large kettledrum similar to timpani.
It seems the instrument was invented during the Achaemenid dynasty (550-330 BCE) of Persia, for military purposes.
The instrument was a pair of drums, made of clay, wood or metal in the form of a hemispherical kettle, with skin stretched over the mouth. Kus was played with drumsticks of leather or wood (The leather drumstick was called Davul, Daval). Kus usually was carried on horseback, camelback or elephant during war to encourage the army. The instrument was also played on many occasions such as festivals and weddings.
In ancient times, kus was accompaniment by karnay (Persian trumpet or horn). Particularly the Persian epic poets Ferdowsi and Nizami Ganjavi, Nizami in describing battles mentioned kus and karnay in a number of entries. Many Persian painting, Persian miniatures paintings show the presence and importance of the Kus and Karnay in the war fields.
According to the Greek historians, the drum was used by the Persians; Plutarch tells of Iranian warriors at the time of the Arsacid Empire, Arsacid dynasty using kus as warlike instruments.Plutarch, ''Crassus'', chapter XXiii, 10
Apparently after the introduction of Islam, the word ''Naghghāreh'' was used for small kettledrums. It seems that the word Naghghareh comes from the Arabic verb ''Naghr-'' that means to strike and to beat. A few poets mentioned the name Naghghareh, such as the great Persian mystic poet Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, Molana Jalal al-Din Rumi.
*Kus-e-Ashkebus: Kus attributed to Ashkebus, famous commander of King Afrasiyab mentioned in masterpiece Shahnameh of the famous poet of Persia, Ferdosi.
*Kus-e-dolat: Kettledrum to be played during the victories.
*Kus-e-id: Kettledrum to be played during id (festival).
*Kus-e-Iskandar: Kus attributed to Iskandar.
*Kus-e-jang: Kettledrum used in wars in order to embolden and encourage the soldiers.
*Kus-e-khaghani: Kettledrum for Khaghan (title of Mongol emperors).
*Kus-e-Mahmudi: Kettledrum attributed to King Mahmud Ghaznavi.
*Kus-e-rehlat: Kettledrum to be played during the decamping.
*Kus-e-ruyin: Kettledrum with brazen body.
*Kust: Another name of Kus mentioned in Shahnameh of Ferdosi.
History of the Kus, from ancient times until the 18th century; in German: Janissary instruments and Europe
{{Azerbaijani musical instruments Hand drums Persian musical instruments Asian percussion instruments Iranian inventions
Etymology
Kus is a Middle-Persian military term meaning "march". According to Von Mohl the term was ''Kūša'', apparently borrowed from Aramaic, probably during the Arsacid Empire, Arsacid dynasty (248 BCE-224 CE).Historical background
It seems the instrument was invented during the Achaemenid dynasty (550-330 BCE) of Persia, for military purposes.
The instrument was a pair of drums, made of clay, wood or metal in the form of a hemispherical kettle, with skin stretched over the mouth. Kus was played with drumsticks of leather or wood (The leather drumstick was called Davul, Daval). Kus usually was carried on horseback, camelback or elephant during war to encourage the army. The instrument was also played on many occasions such as festivals and weddings.
In ancient times, kus was accompaniment by karnay (Persian trumpet or horn). Particularly the Persian epic poets Ferdowsi and Nizami Ganjavi, Nizami in describing battles mentioned kus and karnay in a number of entries. Many Persian painting, Persian miniatures paintings show the presence and importance of the Kus and Karnay in the war fields.
According to the Greek historians, the drum was used by the Persians; Plutarch tells of Iranian warriors at the time of the Arsacid Empire, Arsacid dynasty using kus as warlike instruments.Plutarch, ''Crassus'', chapter XXiii, 10
Apparently after the introduction of Islam, the word ''Naghghāreh'' was used for small kettledrums. It seems that the word Naghghareh comes from the Arabic verb ''Naghr-'' that means to strike and to beat. A few poets mentioned the name Naghghareh, such as the great Persian mystic poet Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, Molana Jalal al-Din Rumi.
*Kus-e-Ashkebus: Kus attributed to Ashkebus, famous commander of King Afrasiyab mentioned in masterpiece Shahnameh of the famous poet of Persia, Ferdosi.
*Kus-e-dolat: Kettledrum to be played during the victories.
*Kus-e-id: Kettledrum to be played during id (festival).
*Kus-e-Iskandar: Kus attributed to Iskandar.
*Kus-e-jang: Kettledrum used in wars in order to embolden and encourage the soldiers.
*Kus-e-khaghani: Kettledrum for Khaghan (title of Mongol emperors).
*Kus-e-Mahmudi: Kettledrum attributed to King Mahmud Ghaznavi.
*Kus-e-rehlat: Kettledrum to be played during the decamping.
*Kus-e-ruyin: Kettledrum with brazen body.
*Kust: Another name of Kus mentioned in Shahnameh of Ferdosi.
See also
*Naqara *Nagara (Drum) *Naqareh, NakerReferences
External links
History of the Kus, from ancient times until the 18th century; in German: Janissary instruments and Europe
{{Azerbaijani musical instruments Hand drums Persian musical instruments Asian percussion instruments Iranian inventions