Reconstruction and development of Azerbaijani traditional instruments: an applied study on the Çahar Tar, Kaşkar Rubab, Kaman, Shaman Defi, Çağanaq, and Müğenni

Abstract

This study examines the organological and structural characteristics of six traditional Azerbaijani musical instruments—Çahar Tar, Kaman, Kaşkar Rubab, Shaman Frame Drum, Çağanaq, and Müğənni—and documents their reconstruction through an applied, practice-based methodology. Drawing on historical sources, contemporary organology literature, and technical measurements, the research analyzes each instrument’s body structure, string arrangement, material composition, and acoustic behavior. Findings demonstrate that the successful restoration of these instruments requires not only historical accuracy but also engineering precision and acoustical coherence. The reconstruction outcomes parallel Zeller’s (2019) methodological approach, which emphasizes the need to reinterpret historical drawings through geometric logic, material science, and performance practice. This is particularly evident in the reconstruction of the Müğənni, where Abdullayeva’s alternative structural model proved acoustically superior to earlier linear-bridge schemata. Similar engineering-acoustic adjustments were required in the rebuilding of the Kaşkar Rubab and Çağanaq, where string–bridge relations and resonance properties were recalibrated to achieve functional performance quality. Overall, this study integrates historical documentation with applied reconstruction data, contributing a systematic and culturally grounded model for the restoration of traditional Azerbaijani instruments. The findings offer a methodological framework that may support future organological research and instrument-making practices.