Qernête

Qernête is a double reed musical instrument of ancient origin (it is often asserted that the design is several thousand years old) used in Kurdistan in addition to other parts of the Middle East, Armenian Plateau and Central Asia. In Kurdistan it is mostly used in mountainous areas in the north. The Kurdish qernête resembles the Armenian duduk, Azerbaijani balaban and Turkish mey, but has a rougher sound. The qernête is known among the Kurds for its melancholic and nostalgic sound.