Category Archives: Facts

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 The pipes were originally made of apricot wood, but today they are usually plastic, as it is cheaper and less difficult to make.…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…

An epigonion (ἐπιγόνιον) was an ancient stringed instrument. It had forty strings and was similar to a harp or a psaltery. An epigonion was named after Epigonus of Ambracia, an inventor of the instrument. The epigonion is a part of the Lost Sounds Orchestra, alongside such ancient instruments as salpinx, aulos, barbiton and syrinx.

Pow-wow (also powwow or pow wow) is a gathering held by various Native American communities. The name comes from the Narragansett language, from the word powwaw, meaning "spiritual leader." Modern Pow-wow is an event where people dance, sing, socialize and discuss the culture of Indigenous People. Dance competitions are held at Pow-wow, often with cash…

It’s been more than a year since “The Lost Songs of World War II” were released by Six Degrees Records. There are 18 songs written by the Soviet Jews who lived through World War II and were long thought to be forever silenced by Hitler and Stalin. The album is available on Spotify, Amazon and…

Two world-famous bands: The American Rogues, a Celtic ensemble, from Sounds of Canada Season 1, and Nagata Shachu, a Japanese group, from Sounds of Canada Season 2 will perform together on the 8th of June. The concert will feature both groups on their own and together in collaboration. “While respecting the traditions of each culture,…

Tsymbaly is generally considered to be both a stringed and a percussion instrument. It is the Ukrainian version of a hammered dulcimer. Tsymbaly is a wooden trapezoid box with metal strings strung across it. It is played with two beaters, which are wrapped in leather. It is one of the oldest musical instruments. In Ukraine…