A fairly large number of musical instruments belong to the plucked group. This is a harp, guitar, balalaika, lute, mandolin, dombra and many others. How did the most famous of them come down to our days? The history of many of these musical instruments is full of interesting facts.
Where did the harp come from?
The harp is a plucked musical instrument, which appeared one of the very first on Earth. Initially, the harp was modified from a regular hunting bow. Apparently, even then the ancient man tried, besides one bowstring, to attach several more “strings” to its base. Interestingly, this tool is also mentioned in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. In this letter, each character denotes a specific concept. When the Egyptians wanted to write the word “beautiful”, “beautiful”, they painted a harp. It was known to the ancient Egyptians as early as 3 thousand years BC. Lyra and harp are the two closest relatives of the hunting bow.
Harp playing in Ireland
Once upon a time, Irish harpers were very revered. In ancient times, they stood at the next level of the hierarchy after the leaders. Often, harpers were blind - Irish bards read verses to their play. Musicians performed ancient sagas using a small portable harp. This plucked musical instrument sounds very melodic. It is very often used by composers when you need to create a mysterious atmosphere or present a mysterious natural image to the listener.
Where does the modern guitar come from?
Researchers of the history of music still can not give a definite answer to the question of the appearance of the guitar. The tools that are its prototypes date back several millennia BC. It is believed that the origin of the guitar is also associated with the use of a hunting bow. The ancestors of the modern guitar were found by geologists in the excavations of the settlements of the ancient Egyptians. Here, this plucked musical instrument appeared about 4 thousand years ago. Presumably, it was from Egypt that it was distributed along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
Kifara - the progenitor of the Spanish guitar
An ancient analogue of the guitar was an instrument called kifara. It is very similar to those guitars that are used today. Even in our time in Asian countries you can find a small musical instrument called “cinera”. In ancient times, the ancestors of guitars had only two or three strings. Only in the 16th century did a five-string guitar appear in Spain. It is here that it receives the greatest, in comparison with other European countries, distribution. The guitar from these times began to be called the national musical instrument of Spain.
The history of balalaika in Russia
Everyone knows the stringed musical instrument, which has become one of the national symbols of Russia - this is a balalaika. When she appeared in Russia, no one can say for sure. There is an assumption that the balalaika originates from the dombra, which was played by Kyrgyz-kaisaki. The earliest references to balalaika in history date back to 1688.
However, one thing is certain - this plucked musical instrument itself was invented by ordinary people. The serfs, in order to forget at least for a moment their heavy share, loved to have fun and play the balalaika. Used and buffoons who traveled to fairs with performances.
The sad story is connected with the ban on the use of balalaika by Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. The angry ruler at one time ordered the destruction of all the plucked musical instrument that the population had. If anyone dares to disobey the king, he will be brutally flogged and sent into exile. However, after the death of the autocrat, the ban was lifted, and the balalaika sounded again in Russian huts.
National Musical Instrument of Georgia
And which plucked musical instrument is common on Georgian soil? This panduri is the main instrument for musical accompaniment, under which songs are sung and laudatory poems are read. Panduri also has a “brother,” an instrument called the chunguri. Outwardly, they are very similar, but their musical properties are different. Most often, panduri is found in eastern Georgia. This Georgian plucked musical instrument is still widespread in such areas as Kakheti, Tusheti, Kartli, Pshavkhevsureti.
How did the banjo come about?
This musical instrument is always associated with the American country style. However, the banjo can be proud of a much more ancient history. After all, it has African roots. It is believed that for the first time black slaves began to play on the banjo, which were brought to American lands. The musical instrument itself is from Africa. Initially, Africans used not even a tree, but a pumpkin to create a banjo. Horse hair or hemp strings were pulled over it.