Haji Mohammad Iri, known as Mokhi Jan, is a singer, musician, and director from Bandar Torkaman in the Golestan province of Iran.
Now in his sixties, he is considered an integral part of the intangible cultural heritage of the Turkmen people in northeastern Iran. Mokhi Jan is a multi-instrumentalist, playing instruments such as the Turkmen Dutâr, garmon, and Jew’s harp (known locally as *zanburak*). He is also a dancer, dance instructor, and theater director.
The Dutâr
The Dutâr is a plucked string instrument found in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, and parts of western China. While the structure of the instrument is similar across these regions, the tuning and playing techniques can vary significantly.
The Turkmen Dutâr has a small resonator body and a narrow, relatively long neck. Typically, the resonator is made from mulberry wood, and the neck is crafted from apricot wood. The Dutâr has two strings, and its name is derived from Persian, where “Do” means two and “tar” refers to a string, literally translating to “two strings.”
The Dutâr typically has seven or eight frets. The frets are usually made from twisted animal gut, but the Turkmen version is often made with metal wire, which is compressed into the wood of the neck.
The melodies played by Turkmen musicians on the Dutâr generally carry themes of mysticism, heroism, and romance. The mystical themes in Turkmen culture typically blend Sufi mysticism from northeastern Iran with shamanic beliefs of the Turkic people of Central Asia. The heroic and romantic themes, on the other hand, reflect the nomadic lifestyle of these communities.
The Zanburak
The Zanburak (known in English as the Jew’s Harp or Jaw Harp) is one of the oldest musical instruments in the world. This small, simple instrument is made of a metal or wooden bar with a tongue in the center of its curvature. The player presses the instrument against their teeth and strikes the tongue to produce a unique and distinctive sound. The name “zanburak” comes from the Persian word for “bee,” as the sound it produces resembles the buzzing of a bee.
The Zanburak is popular in many cultures and countries, including Iran, Russia, China, India, and Central Asia. Due to its unique sound, it plays an important role in folk music and is often used in cultural ceremonies and festivals.
In Iran, the Zanburak is particularly prevalent in the northeastern regions, among the Turkmen and some Central Asian ethnic groups. Mokhi Jan is one of the notable Turkmen Zanburak players. This tradition is widespread throughout Central Asia, with many different melodies composed for the instrument. For instance, there is a tune that mimics the movement of a horse, beginning with the slow, gentle steps of the animal before gradually increasing to a full gallop. Another melody recalls the sound of a caravan of camels, with the distant chimes of their bells and the wind swirling among the group.
