Gusli

The Gusli is an old Russian stringed instrument, which often finds its use in the Russian folk music and folk music. Originally, there was this in two forms, one that corresponded to the zither was played and lying on the knees and another one which was held in the hand. There is also a modern version as a sort of table harp in the form of a piano. The instrument has 36 strings.

History

The first mention of the instrument goes back to traditions from the 6th century. Greeks discovered the instrument in Slavic prisoners. According to the descriptions, it corresponded in form of a simple wooden box with five strings.

In the 12th and 13th century in contemporary Slavic documents the Gusli was mentioned. It is also described as a simple wooden box with five strings in the mood A, C, E, G, A. Initially the instrument was only the exclusive accompaniment of hymns and poetry of another kind, and was primarily used by strolling minstrels. Later, it was refined in its design and the number of strings further increased: from five to ten strings first and then continue to a number of three to four octaves. Therefore changed the playing style and the instrument was tuned chromatically.

First piano -like models whose description is to be found further below, were built in the 18th century in St. Petersburg. In 1890 the instrument from the founder of the Balalaika Orchestra, V. Andreyev was equipped with a button mechanism, which without, however, affecting the gameplay greatly facilitated the sound of the instrument. The actually relevant for the sound of playing the instrument (the right hand ) and the tone remained preserved even when new keys model. Thus, this model is a Gusli can be counted among the traditional Russian folk instruments.

Originals of the instrument in hand design from the late 12th and 13th centuries can be found in the " Glinka Museum of Music and Culture" in Moscow.

The instrument is, however, known not only in Russia. Under other names it exists in Finland ( kantele ) and the adjacent Baltic states and finds a similar use there.

• How zither ( гусли Шлемовидные, Schlemowidnje gusli, helmet-shaped ); This embodiment is similar in construction and in the way of playing largely the zither.

Version 1: similar to the zither

• Hand version ( Крыловидные гусли, Krylowidnye gusli, wing -shaped) is usually small and is operated similarly to a guitar, the left hand can dampen individual strings with his fingers through an opening in the body of the instrument. By this way of playing is a certain kind of chords possible.

Type 2: Hand Version

• Modern, table -like, with keys. The third design is ambidextrous played with the left hand pretending the pitch with the help of a piano -like keyboard in octave length. With the right hand the game player plucks the strings with the fingers or with a plectrum. This is - made ​​of tough leather - like the play the balalaika in deeper tones of voice.

Version 3: modern table design

Operation and sound

In sound and in the function is similar to the instrument of the zither or harp. The sound is produced - as with all stringed instruments - by vibrations of strings ( made ​​of metal or other material such as nylon), which are transmitted to a sound box and are thus reinforced. The vibrations are like almost all older instruments by plucking with the fingers of the hand or the plectrum caused. The sound box is this vibration transmitted then to the environment ( air) on. Then it is as sound a certain height to hearing.

After the instrument by various Russian composers was used in orchestral music, this can be a function assign as a sound basis. In classical music, the sound part is often taken over by the harp, which produces all the sound waves at the game with sliding hand movements. Moreover, it is of course to be found in the various Russian folk ensembles in Russia and abroad.