An old Finnish saying: “Rakkaalla lapsella on monta nimeä” which means ” A dear child has many names”
That is why Tanbur is also called, tambur, tanboor, tanbour and tamira.
Tanbour – My Instrument, My Voice
For me, the tanbour is not just an instrument – it is a voice that carries centuries of memory, spirit, and resilience. With its three copper strings and fragile body, the tanbour has traveled through deserts, mountains, and villages of Iran and Kurdistan, singing both sacred hymns and everyday stories. I first held the tanbour more than twenty-five years ago, and since then it has become the center of my musical journey.
Over the years, I have explored the tanbour in many contexts: as a solo instrument in intimate gatherings, as a partner to the human voice in Sufi traditions, and as part of larger ensembles with saxophone, drums, and electric guitar. In every setting, the tanbour brings its quiet but profound resonance – a sound that is soft and meditative, yet full of fire and rhythm.
For me, the tanbour is more than wood and strings – it is a mirror of migration, transformation, and dialogue. It speaks in the language of tradition, but it is always reaching toward new encounters. When I play it, I am not only continuing an old story, but also writing a new one – one that connects East and West, past and future, silence and sound.
