Black Sea kemençe

The Black Sea kemençe is widespread around Trabzon, Rize, Artvin and Giresun. Its narrow, bottle-shaped body is carved from a single piece of wood and has three strings. The player rests it upright on the knee and bows several strings at once.

It is played in fast, exuberant rhythms and accompanies the horon dance. Folk players often sing atma türkü — witty improvised verses — while playing.

Along the Black Sea the kemençe is joined by the tulum bagpipe, and today it is also heard in the pop and rock music of artists from the region.