About the Balaban — History, Sound & Technique

Origins

A Double-Reed Heritage

The balaban (Azerbaijani: Balaban) is a double-reed pipe with cylindrical bore, about 35 centimetres (14 in) in length, with eight finger holes and one thumb hole, which is played in the eastern part of Iran's historic Azerbaijan region as well as in the Republic of Azerbaijan (where it is also called düdük, according to the Encyclopædia Iranica).

The Azeri balaban, the Turkish mey, and the Armenian duduk are almost identical, except for historical and geographical differences.

Balaban can be found in regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey. It is sometimes used as Balaman, Mey or Whistle, among Azerbaijan and Turkistan in the West Azerbaijan region.

Alp Akmaz playing the Balaban under colored stage lights

~35 cmLength

8 + 1Finger & thumb holes

1.5 cmBore diameter

~6 cmCane double reed

MulberryOr walnut wood

CircularBreathing technique

Craft & Technique

Wood, Cane & Breath

Balaban can be made of mulberry or other harder woods, such as walnut. The bore through the instrument is about 1.5 centimetres (0.59 in) in diameter. The double reed is made out of a single tube of cane about six cm long and pressed flat at one end.

The performer uses air stored in his cheeks to keep playing the balaban while he inhales air into his lungs. This “circular” breathing technique is commonly used with all the double-reed instruments in the Middle East.

“The sound is dull and light — an intimate voice made for closed spaces and room gatherings.”

Construction

Anatomy of the Sound

The Body (Govda)

Consisting of a body (govda) and a large double reed, the balaban measures between 28 and 30 cm in length and 20–22 mm in diameter.

The Reed & Clamp

The cane, flattened by a special method, consists of a clamp and a body. Thanks to the clamp on the reed, the sound can be thinned and thickened.

Tuning & Ashiq

By pushing the grapple up or down on the reed, a one-curtain sound change can be made so it adapts to instrument groups immediately. Another type of Balaban is used in ashiq music.

Learn to Play

Start Your Balaban Journey

40 video lessons with Alp Akmaz — from the first note to the concert stage.

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