Sring

Blul (Armenian Բլուլ ), also sring ( սրինգ ), is an Armenian wooden end-blown flute. The traditional melody instrument of shepherds is predominantly played in folk music as a soloist and ensemble. The flute enjoys as the Armenian duduk short oboe a good reputation as a noble instrument in chamber music, in contrast to Trichteroboe zurna, which is with their low social status in the noisy entertainment music used outdoors.

Design and style of play

The blul does not have a mouthpiece. It is held obliquely downwards and blown with one side closed mouth over a sharp edge. The cylindrical, open at both ends match tube is preferably turned from apricot wood. Other Materials for the Armenian reed flutes and metal. The length is 38-65 centimeters, according to some sources, up to 70 centimeters. The diameter of the bore tapers from 10-15 mm to 15-20 mm on the proximal end of the lower opening. Nine finger holes are located on the top of which the lower two are not covered. On top of an opposing thumb hole. Variants with fewer holes ( five and seven) are also common. After the pitch blul are usually distinguished with the deepest tones C, D ♭, D and E ♭. The pitches are diatonic and correspond to the Aeolian mode. The intermediate notes of the chromatic scale produces the player by partially covering the finger holes. The blul can easily be blown out, resulting in the range increased considerably. The mean pitch can be increased by a fifth or octave, the upper tones to a third. A vibrato is produced by fast finger movements or shaking of the instrument. The sound is velvety- soft, intoxicating and slightly nasal.

Origin and Distribution

Blr and brl with the word environment "light, " variations of the Semitic consonant spellings radiate light " come in Syriac as Berula or bĕlūrā ( " crystal " gem " ) and in the same meaning in the Mandaean language as bilur, bilura, billur ago. The name beryl for a shiny crystal also dates back to this root. The Syrian word bilura standing next to a " wind instrument in which the sound is produced by air we breathe. " Name Relates is played by Kurds in southeastern Turkey shepherd's flute bilûr. In the Turkish province of Muş bülür means a certain flute melody. A regional term for a Turkish shepherd's flute in Bitlis is bilor. In the north- eastern Iraq called a ducted flute blur.

The Azerbaijani counterpart is the shorter with a maximum of 35 centimeters Hirtenflöte Tutak of reed or wood. It is regionally as duduk ( the same name as the Armenian short oboe ), sumsu and blul known. In Ordubad south of the Nakhichevan region Shuva this flute is called. Shvi and Tutak ( t'ut'ak ) also called Armenian recorders. The most trusted name for related flutes in Turkey is kaval ( in the Balkans according kaval ). The main focus in eastern Georgia, the maximum 40 centimeters long shepherd's flute Salamuri is common, while the slightly smaller and rare pilili occurs only in Adjara. Is rather attributed to classical music, oriental longitudinal flute nay.

Among the oldest, found in what is now Armenia instruments include bird bone flutes. In about 1000 BC, a flute is dated from a stork leg, which came in 1962 during excavations in Garni to light. On the musical use refers to a 14-15. Century BC dated bone flute in eastern Georgia, which was in the grave of a young shepherd and as a precursor which is considered Salamuri. Bird bone flutes excavated in Dvin from the 5th century BC.

Medieval flutes produced similar tone levels as today. Armenian folk music, including the accompanying music of dances is predominantly vocal as in the past. Rural folk songs are generally monophonic and be performed by a soloist or a choir singing in unison. The rural instrumental music, their tunes on the blul who plays Tutak or the duduk, corresponding to the pattern of vocal music. The melodies in a slow tempo sound regardless of the numerous regional forms often wistfully.

The aschughner, a singer of epic songs and since the 17th century successor to the medieval gusan even plays stringed instruments such as saz, tschungur (similar to the Georgian tschonguri ) or tar. Also to his accompanying orchestra does not include wind instruments. In contrast, the blul addition to the aforementioned stringed instruments playing the kanun in the chamber orchestras of urban popular music together with a spiked fiddle k'yamancha, the Arab lute ʿ ūd and the trapezoidal zither. For the rhythm of the drum cylinder provide dhol ( related to the Georgian doli ), the frame drum ghaval or the boiler drum pair naghara. As the instruments originate from the mugham derived melody consequences arising from the Perso- Islamic civilization. The urban instrumental music goes to the widespread since the 19th century in the South Caucasus oriental instrumental trio sazandar (named after the long-necked lute saz, Armenian nvagurd ) back.

Shepherd played the blul soloist in the pasture. The tunes they chose the occasion accordingly. Your cattle drove the shepherds with a cheerful melody to pasture or water courses. The flute blew even when the shepherd dog alerted to a hazard or the lambs to the dams should be managed.

In general, the music was credited to possess magical abilities, which is why music played a role in healing rituals. In Armenian folk tales, magical flutes occur, which seduces prince or the evil adversary of the hero could be led to their exhaustion dancing.