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| Classification | |
|---|---|
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 314.122-4 |
| Playing range | |
| various | |
| Related instruments | |
Thetsymbaly (Ukrainian:цимбали) is the Ukrainian version of thehammer dulcimer. It is achordophone made up of a trapezoidal box with metal (steel or bronze) strings strung across it. The tsymbaly is played by striking twobeaters against thestrings.
The strings are strung in groups of 3–5, which are tuned in unison. The bass strings may have 1 or 2 wrapped strings tuned in union. The beaters were quite short in comparison to those used by the Cymbalom although not as short as those of theBelarus variety. Traditionally they had leather wrappings rather than the cotton wrap used by Hungarian and Romanian players.
Under theHornbostel-Sachs system of classification of musical instruments, it has the catalog number 314.122-4,5.[1]
A small multi-stringedchordophone was first was depicted onAssyrian frescoes dating back to 3500 B.C. It is thought to have developed from thePersiansantur, which entered Europe in theMiddle Ages during theCrusades.
With the rise of piano manufacturingVienna in the 19th century, access to metaltuning pins and strings became much easier. Thehammered dulcimer became popular throughout theAustro-Hungarian Empire, where it was quickly spread by itinerantJewish andRomani (Gypsy) musicians. It spread toRomania,Moldavia,Hungary,Slovakia,Ukraine andBelarus, where a variety of regional folk versions and concert instruments were developed. These instruments differed in size, tuning, number of strings and method of holding and playing the hammers.
According toHnat Khotkevych,[2] thetsymbaly has existed in Ukraine since the 9th century.The first documented evidence of thetsymbaly in Ukraine dates to 17th century, where it appears in various dictionaries.[3]
Thetsymbaly were relatively easy to make and quite forgiving in its manufacture. With access topiano wire and metal tuning pegs, an instrument could easily be constructed in the village environment. The instrument spread in popularity among the population in theCarpathians inSouthwestern Ukraine particularly among theHutsuls andBukovinians. It also became relatively popular inBoikivshchyna,Transcarpathia,Podolia,Bessarabia andEastern Ukraine.
The instrument is often used in folk ensembles known asTroyista muzyka, usually made up of 3 instruments played in an ensemble with theviolin,basolia,sopilka orbubon.
Tsymbaly playing is popular in Western Canada among theethnic Ukrainian diaspora there.[4] Numerous music competitions exist, and the instrument defines what "Ukrainian-ness" is in the local music scene.
1) The Hutsultsymbaly: a small instrument usually carried by the musician, using a strap around the player's neck and leaning one edge of the instrument against the player's waist. These instruments usually have 12-13 courses of strings.
2) A semi-concerttsymbaly: manufactured by theChernihiv Musical Instrument Factory in three sizes designed byOlexander Nezovybat'ko andIvan Skliar. These instruments were manufactured from 1950 to 1986.
3) Concertcimbaloms: originally developed in Hungary byJózsef Schunda in the 1870s. These instruments stand on four legs, have many more strings, and a damping pedal. The concert cymbalom has replaced most of the smaller folktsymbaly previously used in Ukrainian orchestras and in Academic Conservatory courses. These instruments are fully chromatic and have a range of over four octaves.
Concert works have been composed for thetsymbaly by professional Ukrainian composersV. Shumeiko,Volodymyr Zubytsky,Anatoliy Haidenko,Bohdan Kotiuk,Izydor Vymer,Dezyderiy Zador,Myroslav Skoryk andYevhen Stankovych.
Among the first concerttsymbaly to be manufactured in Ukraine were made by theMelnytse-Podilsk workshop in WesternUkraine byVasyl Zuliak. These instruments had two pedals and were slightly smaller than the concert Hungarian instruments, although the range was the same. Zuliak later made three different types of instrument.
Instruments were also made by theChernihiv Musical Instrument Factory. These instruments were designed byIvan Skliar aided by O. Nezovybat'ko. They were made in 3 sizes: prima, alto and bass.[5]
Some notable Ukrainiantsymbaly players are: