Slavic folk culture is closely connected with Russia, Ukraine and, of course, Belarus. The musical ensembles of each of the states sometimes used very similar, or even the same mechanisms.
In this article you will learn the names of Belarusian folk instruments. Unfortunately, in our time, most of them do not have such relevance. However, representatives of folklore honor and preserve the ancient musical culture.
Duda
Duda is one of the more popular types of bagpipes. It is also a Belarusian folk instrument.
The area with which it began to spread originates from the former territories of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In ancient Belarus (15-16 centuries), the use of the pipe was of a ritual nature.
The tool consists of a pouch, a sapel - an inflatable tube, a worm - a game tube, one hook - a bourdon. At the very ends of the mantle and hook there are slats that serve as bells - expanding edge parts.
This Belarusian folk instrument is characterized by closed fingering, due to which a specific manner of sounding occurs. Thanks to the bourdon, the effect of polyphony arises - the melody is reinforced by one or more basses at the same time.
Cymbals
Cymbals are a stringed and at the same time percussion musical instrument, representing a trapezoidal deck with stretched strings. The sound from this mechanism is extracted thanks to wooden sticks or beater with expanding shoulder blades at the ends, which the performer hits the strings.
There are two types of Belarusian musical instrument: folk and concert. The second is distinguished by larger parameters.
The sound of cymbals is like a piano merging with bells. The harp is an analogue in Russian culture, but the main difference between the two mechanisms is the method of extracting music. A Russian instrument is played with the help of fingertips or a pick.
Pity
Zhaleika is a wind reed musical instrument. Widespread in the country of Belarus. Zhaleika is considered one of the ancestors of the clarinet.
Initially, the instrument was used by shepherds to invoke animals. Widely distributed in Slavic countries, but now it is used only in the activities of folk ensembles.
The first mention of this instrument is in the records of Tuchkov dated to the 18th century, despite the fact that the author calls it not a pity, but a pipe.
The tool consists of a wooden tube with a bell made either from a cow horn or from birch bark.
There are two types of miserable: single and double-barreled. The instrument makes a loud, piercing, assertive and slightly loud sound. The timbre is nasal and compassionate. Almost no overtones and dynamic shades.
Ratchet
The rattle is both a Russian and a Belarusian folk instrument. During archaeological excavations in Veliky Novgorod, two planks were discovered that could be included in the set of an ancient instrument of the 12th century (according to the musicologist Povetkin).
It was used at wedding ceremonies during the performance of great songs, and also as an alarm, for example, by guards during rounds.
The ratchet consists of a group of 18-20 thin boards, most often made of oak, 16-18 centimeters long. They are interconnected by means of a tight rope, which is threaded into holes cut out at the top of the planks. In order for the boards to be separated, small plates of small size about 2 centimeters wide are inserted between them.
Wheel lyre
Wheel lyre is a stringed musical instrument. His oldest images date back to the 12th century.
On the Slavic land, the lyre appeared in the 17th century. It was used by vagrant musicians, wanderers and blind people, who performed ballads, historical songs and spiritual poems to the sounds of the lyre. The musician held her on his knees and turned the wheel with his right hand, as a result of which a vibration was formed, and most of the strings (from three to eleven) sounded simultaneously.
Lyra has a powerful, monotonous, sad and slightly nasal sound.
Domra
Domra is a Slavic string-plucked musical instrument. It received the greatest distribution in the 16th-17th centuries among buffoons.
The tool consists of two main parts: body and neck.
Domr is distinguished by the number of strings: it can consist of three and four.
Domra is a popular folk instrument both in the Belarusian orchestra and in folklore ensembles of other countries.
It has a bright velvety and light timbre. Due to the strong tension of the strings, the sound of the domra is very sonorous, but quickly calming down. A mediator is used for the game.
Since the instrument has great technical potential, he can perform many compositions. This is one of the reasons why almost no folk ensemble is complete without domra. There are many compositions where a solo part is provided to this instrument.