Category Archives: Facts

Cegléd water jug is a 7-9 litre metal container for water, used as a musical instrument in Romani folk music of Hungary. This jug was first manufactured by a János Rónay in Cegléd in the 1910’s, and in the 1970’s it became a rhythm musical instrument among Romani. Károly Rostás ("Huttyán") was the first to…

Trembita, also known as alpine horn, is a wind folk music instrument, found mainly in the Carpathian Mountains, Ukraine. Its sound is strong and can be heard over 10 kilometers, so it often served as a means of communication for people and herdsmen in isolated mountain areas. Sometimes Trembita is included in modern symphony orchestras…

Kobza is an ancient Ukrainian string instrument, which belongs to the lute family. Ukrainian musicians played on kobzas since the 11th century, although this music instrument became popular only in the 16th century, when kobza was used as an accompaniment to the recitation of dumas performed by kobzars.

Bodhran is a drum, originated in south-west Ireland in the 18th century. It was popular among mummers, or wren boys, as it was made from farm implements. Due to its popularity in 1960s, the bodhran was adopted in Scotland and also in Cape Breton, mainland Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island.

A dung kar (dung-kar) is a Tibetan conch shell trumpet, which makes a warmer, deeper tone comparing to a gyaling. The dung kar is usually played during peaceful religious practices. It is also used to announce the arrival of important figures or to call monks to assemble for ritual.

The gyaling is a Tibetan reed musical instrument. The name of this instrument means “Indian trumpet” and it is very similar to an oboe. The gyaling is a ritual musical instrument, which is often used during peaceful offerings. It is the only instrument that is played using discrete pitches as opposed to slurred melodies.

The kabosy is a box-shaped wooden guitar. It has four to six strings, staggered frets, many of which do not even cross the entire fretboard, and is generally tuned to an open chord. This music instrument is frequently handmade from scavenged materials (used fishing line and scrap wire or cable). The kabosy is usually played…

The parkapzuk (Armenian: Պարկապզուկ) is an Armenian droneless, horn-belled bagpipe. The instrument’s “bag” differs in size, depending on a player’s preference, and is made of gutted and hardened sheep or lamb skin. The pipes were originally made of apricot wood, but today they are usually plastic, as it is cheaper and less difficult to make.…

Rölmo (rol-mo), also known as buk chöl (sbug-chol) or bup chal (sbub-chal), is a Tibetan hemispherical brass cymbals that provide rhythm and structure to the group chants. They look like large knobs with a hole in the centre, through which thin leather handles are strung. These cymbals are played horizontally by striking their faces together…

Tibet has its own sacred and religious music in which such music instruments as bamboo flutes, conch shells, cymbals, hand drums, bells, oboe-like flageolets, etc. are used. Tibetans believe that their musical instruments derived from the meditative visions of high lamas, who were actually transported to the realms of deities when performing visualizations involving these…

The duduk (Armenian: դուդուկ]) is an ancient Armenian double reed woodwind instrument, which existed since the fifth century. The instrument is played by two musicians. The first player plays the melody, while the second plays a steady drone called dum. Its sound is rich and haunting, close to the English horn.

The gayageum (also known as kayagum) is the best known traditional Korean string instrument. It usually has 12 strings and sounds like traditional Eurasian stringed instruments and the Appalachian banjo. The instrument is usually made of paulownia wood. Its sizes range from 140cm to 160cm. The gayageum is traditionally played with both right and left…