The zurna is a woodwind instrument (a relative of oboe ) used to play folk music like the duduk and kaval. It is known as surna (զուռնա) in Armenian or as zurla/surla ((зурла/сурла) in Macedonian or as zirle (Kurdish). The zurna is made from the aged hardwood of slow-growing fruit trees (such as cherry, mulberry, plum and apricot) as well as from pine. The Corsaro Music Zurna is handcrafted from aged mulberry wood trunks in Turkey. Each zurna comes in a different key and thus has a different length and plays a different scale. One of the most commonly used zurnas is the A key (La in Turkish) Zurna as this one. The zurna bears a cylindrical bore, and a bell opening out in a parabolic curve, thus adapted to reflect the sound straight ahead. Zurna gives a loud and highly directional sound and is best accompanied by drums. Zurnas have historically been played outdoors, during festive events such as weddings and public celebrations. They have also been used to gather crowds in order to make official announcements. As a result Zurnas have been used by the Janissary bands and been a part of the Ottoman military music. Each zurna comes with its cylindrical reed flattened to a narrow slit. Length: 35 cm (13.8 inches) excluding mouthpiece Bell Radius: 9 cm (3.5 inches)
