Wind Instruments Depicted on the Illustrations of Sassanid Period

Musical instrument classification is one of the main branches of Ethnomusicology. Identifying cultural values and aesthetic standards can be understood through identification of musical instruments. In other words musical instrument classification is one of the most significant ways to understand the history of music in particular cultures and civilizations. In this regard, the Sassanid period in the history of art and civilization has high position. Sassanid period is one of the most important courses of art and civilization in Iranian history before Islam. In this period, position of art and artists experienced a high rising and prosperity. Music in Sassanid period had a prominent place in people’s lives and in imperial court. The signs in promotion of of music position can be comprehended in the illustration of Sassanid period and also in gestures of travelogues of the western explorers. Remains illustrations of the Sassanid period such as stone reliefs, metal and ceramic plates are the most important resource in the study of music and musical instruments of the period. In some of these illustrations with images of musical instruments, mythical creatures and grape branches have also been located next to the musicians. Musical instruments types in illustrations of the Sassanid period include string instruments, wind instruments, Percussion instrument and idiophones. Among these musical instruments wind instruments and comprise the majority of illustrations after string instruments. The results of this study indicates that wind instruments depicted in the illustration of this period include Syrinx, Double Reeds (Double Reeds), Moshtak, Sorna, Trumpet, and Horn. Syrinx is one of musical instruments in illustrations of the Sassanid period. Syrinx was brought to Iran by western art. The instrument consists of small straws that are wrapped with a sling. Double reed is composed of two separate straws. The double reed instruments in the Images were illustrated as a solo instrument. Moshtak images, as a Musical Instruments, can be seen only in the Sassanid period. This instrument consists of several short straws that set in an air chamber. Musician, to play Moshtak, breathe through the tubes that come out of the instrument. In this period, Sorna can be seen in many illustrations. Stringer in Sassanid illustrations is shown as a solo player. Sassanid Trumpet instrument is similar to trumpets use in Mashhad and the Northern of Iran. Musicians hold the instrument and blow into it. Horn instrument is divided into three distinct categories: The first category is long horn, the second category is curved horn and the third category is small horn. This study performed in the descriptive analysis method, and the data collection method was library documents use.