0 products
Discover the Classical Kemence (Klasik Kemençe), the small pear-shaped bowed instrument known for its concentrated, expressive voice in Turkish makam music. This collection features the handmade professional MCK-140, built with a palm-wood bowl and supplied with a bow, rosin and padded soft case.
What is a Classical Kemence?
The Classical Kemence is a compact, fretless bowed lute traditionally associated with the urban art-music culture of Istanbul and Turkish classical music. It is also called armudî kemençe, meaning pear-shaped kemence, because of its distinctive body outline.
The instrument is commonly described as three-stringed. Its strings are stopped with the side of the fingernail rather than pressed fully onto a fingerboard in the manner of a violin. This technique supports subtle slides, ornaments and the fine pitch control required in makam performance.
History and cultural context
Pear-shaped bowed lutes circulated across the Eastern Mediterranean and Ottoman cultural world, and the Classical Kemence reflects this shared regional history. By the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, virtuosi such as Tanburi Cemil Bey helped establish its prominent solo voice in Ottoman and Turkish classical repertory.
The instrument should not be reduced to a single national or social origin story. Its history is better understood through the connected Greek, Ottoman, Istanbul and Eastern Mediterranean communities that played, built and developed related bowed instruments. Today the Klasik Kemençe is a respected voice in Turkish makam ensembles and solo performance.
Special Classical Kemence MCK-140
The current collection contains one dedicated instrument: the Special Classical Kemence MCK-140. It is handmade in Turkey as a professional model and is listed at $1,899.
- Instrument: Classical Kemence / Klasik Kemençe
- Bowl wood: palm wood
- Construction: handmade professional model
- Included: bow, rosin and padded soft case (gig bag)
- Current price: $1,899
The product page does not provide exact body dimensions, string material, tuning, maker name or top-wood specification. These details should be confirmed before ordering if they are essential to your technique or institutional requirements.
How does Classical Kemence sound?
A well-played Classical Kemence can sound intimate, penetrating and highly vocal. Its compact resonating body and bowed strings respond quickly to changes in bow speed, pressure and contact point, making it especially effective for sustained makam phrases, ornaments and expressive transitions.
Descriptions such as “melancholic” capture only part of its range. The instrument can also be agile, bright, rhythmic and assertive depending on the makam, composition, ensemble role and player. Tone is shaped not only by the palm-wood bowl but also by the soundboard, internal construction, strings, bow hair, setup and performer.
How is Classical Kemence played?
The instrument is held upright, typically supported near the knees, while the bow moves across the strings. Instead of pressing the string down onto a fingerboard, the player contacts the string from the side with the fingernail, creating the characteristic articulation and pitch flexibility.
This nail-contact technique is precise and unfamiliar to many violin or kamancheh players. Begin with posture, open-string bow control and clean contact before attempting fast ornaments. A teacher familiar with Klasik Kemençe can prevent inefficient hand positions and intonation habits.
Classical Kemence vs Black Sea Kemence vs Kamancheh
These names are often confused in translated product pages, but they refer to distinct instruments and playing traditions. The MCK-140 is a Classical Kemence, not a Black Sea kemence and not an Iranian/Azerbaijani kamancheh.
| Instrument | Body and position | String contact | Main context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classical Kemence | Small pear-shaped body, held upright | Strings contacted from the side with fingernails | Turkish makam and classical ensemble music |
| Black Sea Kemence | Narrow boat-like body; regional holding styles | Distinct regional fingering technique | Black Sea folk music and dance repertory |
| Kamancheh | Spike fiddle with rounded resonator | Fretless finger technique; instrument rotates in some techniques | Iranian, Azerbaijani and related classical traditions |
Materials and craftsmanship
The MCK-140 is listed with a palm-wood bowl. A dense bowl material can provide a rigid resonating shell, but wood species alone cannot predict the final tone. Bowl carving, soundboard thickness, internal graduation, neck alignment and bridge setup all influence response.
On a fretless bowed instrument, setup is inseparable from craftsmanship. String height, bridge curvature and nut spacing affect bow clearance, nail contact and intonation. This is why buying from a specialist shop matters, particularly for a professional instrument that must survive international shipping and remain playable on arrival.
Who is the MCK-140 for?
The MCK-140 is positioned as a professional handmade model. It is most suitable for serious learners, conservatory students, ensemble musicians and professional players who understand the instrument’s specialized technique or are studying with a teacher.
A determined beginner can start on a professional instrument, but the price and technique make guided learning especially important. If you are exploring bowed instruments generally, first confirm that you want Classical Kemence rather than Black Sea Kemence or kamancheh.
What is the best option?
This collection currently offers one Classical Kemence, so the decision is not between several quality tiers. Choose the MCK-140 if you want a handmade professional Klasik Kemençe with palm-wood bowl and a complete bow, rosin and padded-case package.
Before purchase, ask about tuning, string setup, exact dimensions and any maker details you require. For beginners, a teacher’s confirmation is more valuable than choosing by decoration alone; for professionals, setup preferences should be discussed before shipping whenever possible.
What is the price range?
The current collection price is $1,899. Price and availability may change, so check the product page at checkout. The bow, rosin and padded soft case are included in the listed package.
Lower-priced student instruments may use simpler materials, less detailed finishing or more standardized setup. Professional instruments generally require more careful carving, response matching and final adjustment. Price alone is not proof of tone, so evaluate craftsmanship, setup, sound sample and after-sale support together.
How to choose a Classical Kemence
- Confirm the instrument family. Do not order a Black Sea Kemence or kamancheh when your method requires Klasik Kemençe.
- Listen to the sound demonstration. Pay attention to response, clarity and balance rather than volume alone.
- Ask about setup. Confirm tuning, strings, action, dimensions and bridge condition if not stated.
- Check the package. MCK-140 includes a bow, rosin and padded soft case.
- Plan instruction. Nail-contact fingering and bow control benefit from specialist teaching.
- Plan transport. The padded bag is useful for storage and careful transport; consider a hard case for flights.
Care and maintenance
- Loosen the bow hair after playing; do not leave it under full tension.
- Wipe rosin dust from strings and finished surfaces with a clean, dry cloth.
- Keep the instrument away from direct sun, radiators, damp rooms and rapid temperature changes.
- Do not use furniture polish, alcohol or household cleaners.
- Check bridge alignment visually, but do not force it into place without experience.
- Replace strings with a set appropriate for Classical Kemence and the intended tuning.
- Allow the instrument to acclimate after shipping before major tuning or setup changes.
Common buying mistakes
The biggest mistake is confusing Classical Kemence with kamancheh or Black Sea Kemence. Other risks include assuming every pear-shaped fiddle uses the same tuning, buying without a teacher’s input, overlooking the specialized nail technique, judging only by ornamentation, and flying with only a soft case.
Frequently asked questions
Is Classical Kemence the same as kamancheh?
No. They are different bowed instruments with different bodies, techniques and repertories.
Is it the same as Black Sea Kemence?
No. Classical Kemence is the pear-shaped instrument used in Turkish makam and classical music; Black Sea Kemence belongs to a distinct regional folk tradition.
How many strings does it have?
The Classical Kemence is commonly a three-stringed instrument.
Why is it played with the fingernail?
The side of the nail contacts the string, supporting precise fretless intonation, ornaments and slides without pressing the string onto a fingerboard.
What is included with MCK-140?
A bow, rosin and padded soft case are included.
What wood is used?
The product lists a palm-wood bowl. Other wood and setup details are not specified on the current page.
How much does it cost?
The current listed price is $1,899.
Can a beginner learn on it?
Yes, but the professional price and specialized technique make instruction strongly recommended.
Related guides to explore
- Classical Kemence vs Black Sea Kemence
- Classical Kemence vs Persian Kamancheh
- How nail-contact fingering works
- Beginner bow exercises for Klasik Kemençe
- Understanding makam intonation on bowed instruments
- How to protect a Kemence during travel
- Rosin and bow care for traditional strings
- Tanburi Cemil Bey and the Classical Kemence tradition