# Khananda
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{{Music of Azerbaijan}}
[[Image:Mugham trio.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A traditional Azeri mugham trio with the khananda (left) as the [daf](/source/daf)-player]]
A '''khananda''' ({{langx|az|xanəndə}} {{lang|az-Arab|خواننده}} {{IPA|az|xɑnænˈdæ|}}; {{langx|fa|خواننده}}; alternative spellings in English: '''khanende''', '''khanande''', '''khanandeh''') is a name generally given to singers of [mugham](/source/mugham), an [Azeri](/source/Culture_of_Azerbaijan) [folk music](/source/folk_music) genre. The word is of Persian origin and means "singer".[{{Cite web|url=https://www.lexicool.com/online-dictionary.asp?FSP=A09B53|title=English Persian dictionary | Lexicool|website=www.lexicool.com}}] When performing traditional mugham, a khananda is accompanied by a trio of musicians who play the [tar](/source/tar_(lute)), the [kamancheh](/source/kamancheh) and the [daf](/source/daf) (tambourine). Often the khananda is the daf-player.
==Origins and development==
The exact origins of the art of khanandas have not been studied thoroughly however it is likely that it emerged during the urbanization in the [medieval](/source/Middle_Ages) epoch. In the growing cities, khanandas would perform at the events organized by the nobility, on weddings and [fair](/source/fair)s, in [caravanserai](/source/caravanserai)s and [tea house](/source/tea_house)s. With [Persian](/source/Persian_language) being the main language of the local literature at the time (mugham lyrics were based on Classical [Islamic poetry](/source/Islamic_poetry)), khanandas used it in their performance and therefore gained popularity mostly among the [aristocracy](/source/aristocracy). Small town and village-dwellers to whom the Persian language was alien preferred the music of the [ashig](/source/ashig)s (traveling bards singing in a [vernacular](/source/vernacular) language, i.e. Azeri). Classical khanandas followed a specific dress code which included a [chokha](/source/chokha), an [arkhalig](/source/arkhalig), an [astrakhan](/source/astrakhan_(fur)) cap (papag), rings and a belt decorated with [gold](/source/gold). Some would even decorate their musical instruments depending on their status and prominence. Khanandas would traditionally gather in [salons](/source/Salon_(gathering)) known as ''majlis-i khananda''.[{{in lang|ru}} [http://www.axtar.az/ru/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=187&Itemid=177 Khananda] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927203316/http://www.axtar.az/ru/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=187&Itemid=177 |date=2007-09-27 }}. ''Axtar.az'']
The art of khanandas experienced its peak in the 19th and the early 20th century. Starting from this period mughams were also widely sung in Azeri – a practice introduced by [Jabbar Garyagdioglu](/source/Jabbar_Garyagdioglu). Being home to most of Azerbaijan's renowned classical musicians, the city of [Shusha](/source/Shusha) became the main cultural centre of Azeri folk music and the arts often referred to as the "conservatory of the [Caucasus](/source/Caucasus)".[{{in lang|ru}} [http://www.iatp.aznet.org/alpub/sanubar.htm The Art of Mugham] by Sanubar Baghirli]
Starting from the late 1800s khanandas started acting in Azeri theatres incorporating mugham into musical plays.