Ghichak

The ''ghijak'' (also spelled ''ghidjak'', ''ghichak'', ''gidzhak'', ''gijak'', ''g'ijjak,'', or ''ghijek'' ( ug, غىجەك, ғиҗәк, ghijek, or occasionally ug, غىرجەك, ғирҗәк, ghirjek; Chinese: 艾捷克 ''aijieke'' or 吉孜哈克 ''jizihake''; russian: Гиджак), is a group of related spike fiddles, used by Afghans, Uzbeks, Uyghurs, Tajiks, Turkmens, Qaraqalpaks and in the Xinjiang province of western China. Despite the similarity of the name, it is more closely related to the Persian kamancheh than the ghaychak.

History

The instrument name appears in 10th-century manuscripts, which indicate that the bridge (''harrak'') was made of almond shells. The ghidjak as depicted in 15th-century Persian miniatures resembles the modern instrument in its construction.

Xinjiang

The ghijek as it is used in Xinjiang has four strings, either with a bowl soundbox (similar to the '' kamancheh''), or with a box soundbox often made from a tin can. One of Xinjiang's most prominent ''ghijek'' players is Akram Omar (艾克热木·吾买尔 / ئەكرەم ئۆمەر / Акрам Омар), from Kashgar.video
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See also

kamancheh

References

External links

Afghan ghaychak (box lute)Tajik ghijak (box lute

Chinese musical instruments
Culture in Xinjiang
Kazakhstani musical instruments
Kyrgyz musical instruments
Afghan musical instruments
Uzbekistani musical instruments
Tajik musical instruments
Turkmen musical instruments

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