Qānūn

Qānūn pl. qawānim (Arab.) [Gk. *kanón], Arab. name for the psaltery in form of a trapeze or half trapeze, known in the 10th c. and still played. Depicted with 10 strings in the 10th c., it had acquired 64 in Persia by the 14th c., arranged in courses of 3. From the 12th to the 15th c. it was held vertically with its soundboard against the player's chest. One hand held it in position, the other hand plucked the strings. Although it is depicted as early as the 10th c., it is first mentioned in…