LITHUANIAN TRADITIONAL LITHUANIAN TRADITIONAL INSTRUMENTSINSTRUMENTS

By Dominykas Rudelis

Gedminai main school

KANKLĖSKANKLĖS The The KanklėsKanklės (pronounced (pronounced [kʌŋkles]) is one of ) is one of

the oldest Lithuanian folk stringed instruments. the oldest Lithuanian folk stringed instruments. Information about the kanklės can be found in Information about the kanklės can be found in Lithuanian folk songs, tales, legends often Lithuanian folk songs, tales, legends often reaching the times when Lithuanians were pagans reaching the times when Lithuanians were pagans and believed that a man’s soul can dwell in a tree and believed that a man’s soul can dwell in a tree or in a psaltery and speak or sob in a man’s voice. or in a psaltery and speak or sob in a man’s voice. In the historical sources the kanklės is mentioned In the historical sources the kanklės is mentioned for the first time in the 16th century. Taking into for the first time in the 16th century. Taking into consideration the peculliarities of making, kanklės consideration the peculliarities of making, kanklės can be divided into three groups: primary, simple can be divided into three groups: primary, simple and complex. and complex.

KANKLĖSKANKLĖSGouged from one piece of wood, the primary Gouged from one piece of wood, the primary kanklės is the most ancient and most primitive. kanklės is the most ancient and most primitive.

The simple kanklės is also gouged from one piece The simple kanklės is also gouged from one piece of wood but it is larger, has more (from 9 to 12) of wood but it is larger, has more (from 9 to 12)

strings, and, besides, it is made with greater strings, and, besides, it is made with greater artistry. The complex is glued up of separate parts: artistry. The complex is glued up of separate parts: the ends, the sides, the soundboard and the back. the ends, the sides, the soundboard and the back. The strings of the kanklės were made of catgut or The strings of the kanklės were made of catgut or

iron or steel wire.iron or steel wire. The instrument is similar in construction and The instrument is similar in construction and

origin to the Latvian kokle, Estonian kannel and origin to the Latvian kokle, Estonian kannel and Finnish kantele.Finnish kantele.

KANKLKANKLĖSĖS

BIRBYNĖBIRBYNĖ

A A birbynėbirbynė is a is a Lithuanian aerophone that that can be either single or double-can be either single or double-reeded and and

may or may not have a may or may not have a mouthpiece. . BirbynėBirbynė can be made of a variety materials: wood, can be made of a variety materials: wood, bark, horn, straw, goose feather, etc. The , horn, straw, goose feather, etc. The

earliest and simplest examples were used by earliest and simplest examples were used by children as playtoys and by shepherds as a children as playtoys and by shepherds as a

tool to control the herd. tool to control the herd.

BIRBYNĖBIRBYNĖ

In the 19th century, influenced by classical In the 19th century, influenced by classical instruments and especially the instruments and especially the clarinet, , birbynėbirbynė evolved into a serious musical evolved into a serious musical instrument used in assembles. Modern instrument used in assembles. Modern birbynėsbirbynės are made of wood with bells of are made of wood with bells of

horn and usually have ten horn and usually have ten tone holes. They . They are divided into three categories: soprano, are divided into three categories: soprano,

tenor, and contrabass. tenor, and contrabass.

BIRBYNĖBIRBYNĖ

The skrabalai The skrabalai are trapezoid-shaped wooden troughs

of various size with one or two wooden or metal hanging small clappers fixed inside them. When the skrabalai is moved a clapper knocks at the

wall of the trough which gives hollow but distinct sound. The height of the sound depends on the

size of the wooden trough.The skrabalai is gouged from a piece of hard wood – oak or ash. The size of troughs varies

from quite small, 7 – 12 cm. long, 5 – 7 cm. wide and 6 – 7 cm. high, to larger ones. The walls are 2

– 3 cm. thick.

The skrabalai

From ancient times the skrabalai was used by shepherds. They used to tie

a wooden bell of this kind on a cow’s neck thus making it easier to find animals in a foresr when they

strayed away from the herd.

The skrabalai

Old people say that some musician – drum beaters in Samogitia – used to strike the skrabalai when playing for dances. If the skrabalai was with clappers the musicians

used to hold it in the hand, if not it was tied to a staff stuck in the ground and played

with dry wood sticks. Separate melodicrhythmic tunes were performed on

the skrabalai.