Sataer

{{Infobox instrument

| name = Sataer

| image = Uyghur satar or sataer (ساتار).jpg

| image_size = 220px

| alt = photo of man playing a sataer

| caption = Uyghur satar or sataer (ساتار)

| background = string

| names =

| classification = string instrument

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| related = {{bulleted list|Dutar|Setar|Tanbur|Tembor}}

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}}

File:Pastimes of Central Asians. Musicians. A Man Practicing the Kamancha, a Long-necked Stringed Instrument WDL10824.png or setar-like shape and length. It is also 3-stringed, the original meaning of setar. 1860s, Turkestan]]

The Sataer ({{langx|ug|ساتار, сатар}}; {{lang-zh|萨它尔}}){{efn|The Chinese translation—萨塔尔, sàtǎ'ěr—is a transliteration of the original Persian loanword (via Uyghur).}} is a traditional Uyghur long-necked bowed lute. It is used by Uyghur people in Xinjiang, western China, and is an important instrument to play maqams.{{cite news |work= China Daily |title= Instrument makers dance to a traditional tune |author1 =Cui Jia |author2= Mao Weihua |date=21 July 2017 |url= https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2017-07/21/content_30195233.htm |quote= Satar 135 cm An important instrument for the maqam, the most famous genre in Uyghur music, it is played with a bow.}}

Characteristics

The instrument is a long-necked lute, about 140 cm long, with a bowl about 16.5 cm at the widest point, about 15 cm deep. The neck is fretted with 18 tied frets, which may be made of string rather that the inlaid metal frets of western instruments. The soundboard has additionally frets laid on it under the main melody string, approximately 11 or 12 frets.

The sataer is strung with between 9 and 17 sympathetic strings which are not played directly but vibrate in reaction to the melody string, in sympathetic resonance.{{cite news|title= The craft of Satar making by the people of Toksu |author1= Niyaz Sattar |author2= Qurban Sabir |work= xjtsnews (Xinjiang Tianshannet)|url= http://www.xjtsnews.com/normal/content/bak/wenhua/content/2011-08/10/content_161570.htm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111026221514/http://www.xjtsnews.com/normal/content/bak/wenhua/content/2011-08/10/content_161570.htm |archive-date= 2011-10-26 |quote= The first string of the satar is the main string, which represents the main melody, or the main string. The rest of the strings act as a reflection.}}

A single melody string is set apart from the sympathetic strings. This is the string that the musician manipulates on the instrument's neck, fretting it to change the notes as the string is bowed.

On modern instruments, the bridge is set on the soundboard near the bottom at an approximately 45-degree angle, instead of set straight across the soundboard.{{cite web |title = 维吾尔十二木卡姆乐器简介一、弓弦乐器 1、萨它尔(translation: Introduction to Uyghur Twelve Muqam Musical Instruments, One, bowed stringed instruments, 1. Sattar)|url= http://www.erzww.com/?id=359 |quote=[See top photo.]}}

A shorter version, about 120 centimeters long, is known as the alto sataer (中音萨它尔).{{cite web |author= Zhao Hongxiao |title= Introduction of Chinese and Western Musical Instruments |url= https://old.hongxiao.com/dy/Article/musicnatural/chianUSA/minyuelaxian/banmian/200509/511.html}}

Tuning

The main string of the instrument is set in relation to the lead singer's voice, singing the 12 maqams. The string is set approximately to:

c-c2 or d-d2

For an instrument using 12 sympathetic strings, the strings may be tuned:

G, c, d, e, g, a, c1, d1, e1, g1, a1, c2

c, d, e, g, a, c1, d1, e1, g1, a1, c2, d2.

Notes

References

External links

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMaT2nHBq_I Video. Trio playing Uyghur instruments; satar is on the far right.]
[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rYNYI0WjwXg Video. Satar playing with drum.]

Category:Chinese musical instruments

Category:Culture in Xinjiang

Category:Uyghur musical instruments