Image: Natural History Museum in Paris, CC BY 3.0 — via Wikimedia Commons
Sorahi
| Category | Strings (plucked long-necked lute) |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Iran |
| Classification | Persian musical instrument |
| Wikipedia | en.wikipedia.org |
| Wikidata | Q7563269 |
Overview
The sorahi is a plucked long-necked lute used in Persian classical music. Its name comes from the Persian word for a long-necked bottle or carafe, after the distinctive shape of its resonator. Like the shurangiz and the shashtar, the sorahi is a twentieth-century addition to the Persian instrumentarium, designed to broaden the tonal palette available to setar players and ensembles without breaking with the modal foundations of the tradition.
Origin & History
The sorahi is associated with the same circle of modern Iranian luthiers and performers — including Hossein Mohit — who worked from the mid-twentieth century onward to extend the Persian lute family. The bottle-shaped resonator gives the instrument a clear, slightly nasal voice that complements the setar in ensemble contexts and offers a distinct solo timbre.
How It’s Played
The sorahi is plucked with the index fingernail in the setar tradition, and held against the body with the neck angled upward. Movable gut frets along the neck allow it to be tuned to the microtonal intervals of any chosen Persian dastgah. Right-hand technique combines single-note ornamentation with rapid up-and-down strums on open or sympathetic strings.
Cultural Significance
The sorahi sits within the small but recognised family of modern Persian lutes — alongside the shurangiz, the shashtar, and several other twentieth-century designs — that have extended the practical range of the tradition while keeping its modal and ornamental vocabulary intact. It is performed primarily by specialist soloists and within ensembles dedicated to contemporary Persian classical music.
Related Instruments
- Setar – closest stylistic ancestor
- Shurangiz – sibling modern Iranian lute
- Shashtar – sibling modern Iranian lute
- Cura – Turkish saz-family relative
- Bulbul Tarang – contrasting fretted-key cousin
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name sorahi mean?
“Long-necked bottle” or “carafe” in Persian, referring to the shape of the resonator.
How is it tuned?
Movable gut frets allow it to be set to the microtonal intervals of the chosen dastgah.
Is it a traditional or modern instrument?
A modern instrument, designed in the twentieth century within the Persian classical tradition.