KOBOZ

also spelled Komuz, or Kobuz, Turkish Qupuz, short-necked lute of Middle East origin; it was known in Byzantium as the pandourion and made its way into neighbouring regions from Persia by means of Islamic conquests and migrations. The Spanish Christians called it a Moorish guitar, and it was frequently pictured on Spanish miniatures of the 13th century. The koboz is carved out of a single piece of wood, with no distinct neck; the pegbox is bent backwards in a sickle shape and contains lateral pegs. There are three to five strings on the string holder, which is not frontal but on the lower end of the body. The Romanian version, the cobza, is a popular instrument with a mandolin-shaped body and small soundholes on its belly. It has from 5 to 12 strings, sometimes dividing into two courses at the bridge, and is played with either a plectrum or the bare fingers.