Tingalin (Çifteli and Lahuta) Status

"The Tingalin iPhone app simulates this two-stringed instrument with absolute fidelity, going as far as to recreate the wrist-based strumming technique of the ancient Çifteli masters".  Tingalin is a unique music instrument based on the Albanian lute Çifteli (meaning "pair of strings").  Tingalin simulates strumming by shaking your device, as if strumming the real instrument.  Tingalin is also great for those wishing to learn how to play the real instrument.  The Çifteli is a wooden instrument with a long thin handle and a pear-shaped sound bowl.  The first string is used to play the notes while the seconds strings acts as a backup harmonic tune.  Tingalin offers multiple instrument voicings.  You can also play back a melody by swiping the bowl on screen or simply pressing the play button.  This two string lute looks similar to Setar, Saz and Tambura; however, its sound is unique.  Continuously strumming plays back the entire melody.  Simply slow down the tempo and watch where the notes are played on the handle to follow along.  Each voicing can be tuned to the preferred pitch using the slider control +/- 2 octaves.  Each strum up or down plays one chord at a time.  "Before I go to bed I simply must play my Tingalin!