Kanun (Qanun)

Kanun (qanun) belonging to Mitsos Michailidis, born in Alaya and a student of the renowned kanun virtuoso Giorgos Stefanidis. Mitsos preserved the instrument at the age of twelve during the forced displacement.
The kanun retains its traditional trapezoidal/triangular form, with finely worked sound rosettes and handmade mandals (microtonal levers) for the adjustment of microtones, and is decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay. It bears visible traces of long use, constituting an authentic testimony to the urban musical culture of the Greeks of Asia Minor.
For livelihood, Mitsos Michailidis played kanun in Constantinopolitan/Asia-Minor ensembles in Athens, before later turning to work in the textile industry.
The kanun is exhibited in the permanent collection of the Sparta of Asia Minor Association of Nea Ionia.

Kindly made available for photography by the Sparta Association.