A Benju, Benjo ( Sindhi, Balochi: بینجو) is a type of

zither Zither (; , from the Greek ''cithara'') is a class of stringed instruments. The modern instrument has many strings stretched across a thin, flat body. Zithers are typically played by strumming or plucking the strings with the fingers or a ...

fitted with a

keyboard Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Mus ...

, commonly used in the

Sindhi music Sindhi folk music () is traditional folk music and singing from Sindh, which is sung and generally performed in 5 genres that originated in Sindh, the first genre "Bait" styles. The Bait style is vocal music in Sanhoon (low voice) and Graham (high ...

and Balochi music. The Benju holds a significant place in the Sindh and Balochistan's musical heritage. It produces a rich overtone and creating a mesmerising sound that has become an integral part of the folk music in

Balochistan Balochistan ( ; , ), also spelled as Baluchistan or Baluchestan, is a historical region in West and South Asia, located in the Iranian plateau's far southeast and bordering the Indian Plate and the Arabian Sea coastline. This arid region o ...

. Baloch musicians gradually adapted it for contemporary performances and developed and enchanting textural template. Today, in all regions of Balochistan, especially in the cities, binju is used in all kinds of music along with common Balochi instruments.

Construction and play

It is about 1 meter long, 10 –12 cm wide and the soundbox is about 5 cm high, with six strings. Strings 1 and 2, 5 and 6 are used as bordun ( drone) strings and tuned to the tonic and the fifth or fourth. In relative pitch C and G or F. The middle strings 3 and 4 are tuned unison to F or G, and they are fretted and can be shortened by pressing down the metal keys. The scale is chromatic from G to A, B flat or B. The right hand plays the strings by using a wooden or plastic plectron, the left hand is fingering the keys. The benju is played mainly as a solo instrument accompanied by

dholak The ''dholak'' is a two-headed hand drum, a folk percussion instrument. The dholak is most commonly recognised in countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, but can also be found amongst the Indo-Diaspora in countries s ...

and tambura. Sometimes it is combined with

Suroz The suroz ( Balochi: سُروز or سُرود) is a bowed string instrument with a long neck, similar to a fiddle or sarangi and played vertically. It is considered the traditional instrument of the Baloch people in Balochistan. Suroz is a Ba ...

Players

Abd-ur-Rahmân Surizehi Abdulrahman Surizehi is an ethnic Baloch musician, born in Iranian Balochistan and later living in Oslo, Norway. Surizehi specialises in the benju, a Baluch keyboard zither, and has been referred to as the instrument's greatest performer. Suriz ...

, born in Iranian Balochistan, has been referred to as the instrument's greatest performer. He now lives in

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...

. * Bilawal Belgium, Benjo player from

Mirpur khas Mirpur Khas (Sindhi language, Sindhi and ; ''meaning "Town of the most-high Talpur, Mirs"'') is a city in Sindh province, Pakistan. The city was built by Talpur rulers of Mankani branch. According to the 2017 Census of Pakistan, its population w ...

Sindh Sindh ( ; ; , ; abbr. SD, historically romanized as Sind (caliphal province), Sind or Scinde) is a Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Pakistan. Located in the Geography of Pakistan, southeastern region of the country, Sindh is t ...

. * Ustad Noor Bakhsh, born in Pakistani Balochistan, has played the benju since the age of 12. Although he spent most of his career playing at weddings and other small gatherings, his work has found an international audience late in his life. An album, Jingul, was released in 2022. He appeared on the first Boiler Room show in Karachi on June 20, 2022. In 2023 embarked on a 10-country European tour, including a performance at the

Roskilde Festival The Roskilde Festival is a Danish music festival held annually south of Roskilde. It is one of the largest music festivals in Europe and the largest in the Nordic countries. It was created in 1971 by two high school students and a promoter. In 1 ...

. File: File:

References

External links

BalochistanMusic blog
Typewriter zithers Baloch musical instruments Balochi_music {{zither-instrument-stub