Hungarian folk instruments

REED VIOLIN

It consists of two equally structured pieces: one is the violin, and the other is the bow. If the pieces are not completely dry, rubbed together they give a scraping sound.

OBOE-LIKE SHAWM

A Hungarian double reed instrument made of wood. It was used by the military as a signaling and guiding device. It was a favorite of Rákóczi's freedom fighters (1703-1711). Therefore it is believed that the name tárogató is of kuruc origin.

The Schunda-Tárogató known and used today, was only designed in 1890. It is a manufactured clarinet-like instrument with stops and a single reed. It has a funnel shaped pipe while the one of the clarinet is cylindrical-shaped.

SHEPHERD'S PIPE

It is a 70-80 cm long pipe made of willow bark, wood or metal. It has no openings and flute. The different sounds are made with the tongue and with a finger by opening and closing the bottom of the pipe. Today, only the Csángó of Moldova use the tilinka or csilinka.

JUGHORN, JUGPIPE

Leather or parchment is tightened to the top of a large pottery or wooden jug. A reed or horsehair is fastened to the cover. The one with horsehair is called bull (bika) by the Csángós. A wet hand moved up and down the reed or horsehair creates a unique sound of percussion. It is used with other instruments.

ZITHER

The zither is the most widely used folk instrument since ancient times. Every herdsman and farmer was able to construct one.

Anybody could learn to play it. There are three basic forms: through zither, small headed zither and bulging zither. The through zither was made of a single piece of poplar or bass-wood. Metal pegs were driven into one end to hold the steel strings, and tuning pegs were screwed to the other end. The players used a hammer, sharpened quill or a piece of horn to pluck the strings. The small headed (horse-, child-, side-headed) zithers, made of separate pieces of soft and hard wood were common on the Hungarian Great Plain and seem to be a Hungarian specialty. The bulging zithers are of Western influence and were used mainly in Transdanubia.

A good player could fill the room with the zithers distinct sound. In the 20th century it became the instrument of the poor. It was used at weddings and dances because its sound was excellent to support singing, dancing and merry making. The musicians were not paid, as the guests themselves - girls included - took turns in making music.

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