The sornā or Sarnā (Persian سورنا, سُرنا sornā, also سورنای, سُرنای sornāy, also Surna and Zurna) is an ancient Iranian woodwind instrument.
Etymology
The word
sorna is a
Pahlavi derivative of
sūrnāy (literally "strong flute"), which is a compand of
'sūr-' (strong) and
'-nāy' (flute). Possibly it was called "strong flute" due to its double-reed-construction rather than usual
nāy, which was made of a single tube of cane. Also it is suggested that the first part of word of
sorna, is from
sūr- again from Pahlavi and
New-Persian, meaning the "banquet, meal and feast", thus the "banquet-flute".
It is also suggested that "Sorna" is a congnate of "Horn", as "Sorna" simply means horn. This is a result of the Centum-Satem isogloss, and later Grimm's Law. Even in Persian there is another wind instrument whose name appears to be a cognate of both "Sorna" and "Horn", called "Karna" (کرنا); this may stem from a re-borrowing from another language.
Historical background
The instrument's history dates back to the
Achaemenid Dynasty (550-330 B.C.E.), and was used to play at the end of the day from the city gate or from the local administration building. This custom persisted in
England until the 19th century, the town waits playing
shawms to mark the hours. The instrument was mainly played in outdoors in regional music of
Iran in the festive ceremonies (the famous Persian poet
Molana Rumi has mentioned the
sorna and
dohol in his poems).
The Achaemenid sorna was a large trumpet-like instrument, but in later dates was reduced in size, and became more like (shrill oboe), or dozale (double oboe), which is characterized by a turned wood body of simple shape, with a heavily flared bell. The earlier was categorized as a trumpet, but this was a mistaken idea based on the bell of the oboe and the freeblowing embouchure that often gives a superficial resemblance to a brass embouchure, particularly if the oboe is fitted as so many are with a lip ring.
According to the Shahnameh, it was King Jamshid who devised the Sornā. Except the literary evidences, there are also number of artefacts from Sasanian dynasty (224-651 CE), depicting Sorna, such a silver dish, currently in Hermitage Museum.
Function
A small amount of air is forced under pressure through a small metal tube called the staple which serves to hold the reed and match it to the bore. This requires the player to make sure, as in oboe playing, that one also empties the lungs of stale air when taking a new breath.
Often sornas were played in pairs, with a melody and a drone player. This drone may move to different notes during a piece of music, changing at prescribed places in the composition.
Several other names, such as dohol, davul, tavel, and so on have been applied to the sorna. Since dohol is a double-faced drum sometimes it is called do-rūyeh in Persian language, in contrast to ghaval and daf, which are yek-rūyeh (one-faced).
There are several Persian proverbs about the sorna. The most famous proverb that many poets have been used in their works is: "آواز دهل شنیدن از دور خوش است" (Āvāz-e-dohol shenidan az dur khosh ast)", which literally means "Sorna/Dohol sounds pleasant from a distance".
Popularity of Sorna in Different Locations of Iran
The Sorna is mostly played in
Lorestan,
Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari,
Kordestan,
Sistan and Baluchestan Province,
Azarbaijan.
Sorna in Lorestan
In
Lorestan, Sorna is used as a main instrument during wedding ceremonies and also funeral ceremonies (which is called Chamaryounah). Sorna almost always is accompanied with
Dohol in this region.
Shahmirza Moradi
Shahmirza Moradi was one of the most famous Sorna players. He was born and lived in
Dorood,
Lorestan. He got the title of "Master of Breath" during his two successive concerts in the
Théâtre du Châtelet in
Paris,
France.
Sorna in Sistan va Baluchestan
Surna in the Iranian region of
Sistan and Baluchestan Province is mostly used in wedding ceremonies and other celebration. Surna is always accompanied by
Dohol and sometimes may include traditional dance by forming a circle.
See also
Zurna
References
Category:Iranian musical instruments
Category:Oboes
