As a complement, for those interested in further information about the balouch banjo, i recommend the reading of the following article by Jean During.
Jean During is a musician and ethnomusicologist who spent 9 years in Iran. He is a reference for his work and knowledge of sufi and extatic music in central Asia. By the way he quotes Ulrich in the side notes.
Thank you for the link. Great ressource.
I agree, in India the bulbul tarang has still maintained the characteristics of the japanese original model : a typewriter with poor sound. However, in Balouchistan since it arrived 70 years ago the instrument has changed so much as regards esthetic but mostly building and sound that it has taken its place among the traditional instruments like sorud and ghaychak. Yesterday for No rouz, the persian new year, i watched a tv program showing traditional songs and music from all parts ot Iran and there was a balouch benjo in the middle. That's incredible such a new instrument has reached similar status into this traditional and renowned conservative culture !
I put a video of Mohamad Delnavaz a iranian master of benju. He is permanently working with builders to improve the instrument.
Benjo or balouch banjo. This is rather a dulcimer (zither family) than a banjo obviously.
Dispite the appearances benjo is not a traditional instrument but fairly new in the Balouchistan area and its folk music. It was certainly introduced in Pakistan from Japan, and developed from a toy instrument called taishogoto. Here's a video of Nasim Ali Baloch a master of this instrument. Enjoy.
4-01.-Article-NEMO-n°3-4-Jean-During-STS_compressed.pdf - 567KB