Unusual instrument of much renown and beatification is the Qanun – The qanun, an ancient Middle Eastern instrument, has been played by musicians since 950 A.D. It’s made with a base of wood overlaid with between 74 and 81 strings, and musicians play it on their laps by plucking the strings with picks or fingernails. The name comes from the Greek for “canon,” meaning “rule,” likely because its tuning sets the rule for other instruments and singers in an ensemble led by the qanun.
The Mind Orchestra 