A benju ( Balochi: بینجو) a type of

zither Zithers (; , from the Greek word ''cithara'') are a class of stringed instruments. Historically, the name has been applied to any instrument of the psaltery family, or to an instrument consisting of many strings stretched across a thin, flat ...

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 * Musi ...

, commonly used in the

music of Balochistan The Baloch or Baluch ( bal, بلۏچ, Balòc) are an Iranian people who live mainly in the Balochistan region, located at the southeasternmost edge of the Iranian plateau, encompassing the countries of Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. The ...

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 Drone most commonly refers to: * Drone (bee), a male bee, from an unfertilized egg * Unmanned aerial vehicle * Unmanned surface vehicle, watercraft * Unmanned underwater vehicle or underwater drone Drone, drones or The Drones may also refer to: ...

) 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 instrument is about 45 cm in length and 27 cm in breadth and is widely used in '' qawwali'', ''kirtan'', ''lavani'' and '' bhangra''. The drum has two differe ...

and tamburag. Sometimes it is combined with sorud.
Benju and Abdulrahman Surizehi

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. Surizehi ...

, now living in NorwayAbdulrahman Surizehi song

References

External links

BalochistanMusic blog
* Mohammad Taghi Mas'udiye. ''Sâzhâ-ye irân''. Typewriter zithers Baloch musical instruments {{zither-instrument-stub