Tamburica

Tamburica [ tamburitsa ] ( German often " Tamburizza " ) is an umbrella term for South Slavic and Hungarian folk instruments that are to be found particularly in Croatia and in Serbia and Hungary. Some tambura instruments resemble the instruments type ago the Bulgarian- Macedonian Tambura.

" Tambura " is from grammatical point of view, the diminutive ( a diminutive ) of " tambura ", but probably developed over time to a pet name for these instruments and is now commonly used as a general term. The tambura music has always been viewed as a cultural means of identification and commitment to Kroatentum.

The tambura is a stringed instrument, related to the Italian mandolin, the Spanish guitar, the Russian balalaika, the Ukrainian bandura and other similar instruments. All these instruments are originally from the area of the former Persia (now Iran ), where the ancient Assyrians already 5000 years ago had a pretty similar instrument.

3.1 Two Coherent System
3.2 Three Coherent System
3.3 Four Coherent System

5.1 plucking
5.2 tremolo

History of Tamburica

So far is unknown when the related with the Tamburica tambura came to Hungary and to the South Slavic peoples from their original home. Some suspect that the South Slavs came with the Tambura more than 1300 years ago in today's areas of Europe. Others suspect that only the Turks brought the tambura in the present-day districts about 500 years ago.

Bosnia is supposedly the old area of origin, from where this folk instrument used to Slavonia (eastern Croatia) and the area of Backa ( Vojvodina today ). There, the first tambura groups were founded more than 100 years ago and which made this instrument in the subsequent 70 to 80 years on the entire territory of South Eastern Europe known.

The tambura is played today, especially in Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia (especially in Syrmia in Vojvodina ), Hungary and Slovenia. Since the 19th century, this instrument is also played in Austria, in particular of the Burgenland Croats in Burgenland, further in Southern Carinthia and Vienna.

Types of Tamburica

" Tambura instruments " is used in the following only as an umbrella term for all the different kinds of stringed instruments. Usually, however, we speak each of the different types of instruments itself

In a tambura ensemble, there are instruments of different sizes: the smallest is the Bisernica or Prim, it follows the Brač or Bassprim, Čelo, Bugarija or contraindications and Berde or bass. In the mood, there are two fundamentally different systems: The Srijemski -Stim or Slavonske Tambure, common in eastern Croatia, Vojvodina, Banat, Backa and Syrmia, on A ( Brač / Bassprim, Čelo, Berda / Bass ) / E ( Bisernica / Prim, Bugarija / contraindications ) based, and common in western Croatia system, which is based on G / D. The name comes always forth from the highest, finest string. Today, both are equally practiced throughout Croatia.

Bisernica or Prim

The smallest Tamburica called prim or Bisernica, two names for the same instrument. With this instrument the finest sounds are played. Scores for tambura ensembles usually have two or even three Bisernica votes on ( I, II and III. Bisernica ). Used to be called the Second Bisernica also kontrašica, but this word is not used very often today. The " Srijem " tambura musicians call the I. Bisernica also with the foreign word or Prim Prima and II Bisernica they call Terzprim or Terzprima. An in size related but rather more traditional and less used instrument is the Samica.

Brač

For medium-sized pitches are called Bračevi ( = plural) used, of which there are in the orchestra in turn 2 or even 3 ( I, II and III. Brač). The musicians from the region of Syrmia call the I. Brač also Bassprim and II Brač Terzbassprim or Bassprimterz. The Brač sees the Macedonian- Bulgarian Tambura confusingly similar.

Čelo and Čelović

For the "fat", long sequences of notes, there is the Čelo. Other names for the same instrument denominated Čelović, Čelo - Brac or Čelo. Usually there are in the orchestra only one of these instruments rarely, and only in two orchestras with a larger number of instruments, all three " Čelo - Tamburainstrumente ".

Bugarija or contraindications

To accompany a tambura orchestra the Bugarija serves. From it there are again three types: I, II and III. Bugarija. Usually, one uses either the Bugarija II (with two -part tambura instruments ) or only the III. Bugarija (after " Srijem " type ). The I. Bugarija is used less and less. The Srijem - musicians in turn call this instrument also Contraindications ( because of their " double blow - play ").

Berda

The lowest notes are played by a Berda ( double bass ). ( the bass is very similar to a classical orchestra ).

Melodic instruments and accompanying instruments

In all these types of tambura instruments there are any. Both " pear " and in guitar shape In " Srijem system" and the viola da gamba form of Berda ( bass ) was introduced. The so-called Berdeta.

Bisernica ( Prim ), Brač ( Bassprim ) Čelo, Čelo - Brac and Čelović are called melodic instruments because melodies are played on them. Berda (bass) and the Bugarija ( counterpoint ), however, are accompanying instruments. They occur only in a tambura ensemble, as this is rhythm instruments. The Berda are the basic beat and the Bugarija accompanies the melodic instruments with chords and rhythmic beats. Therefore, the techniques of making music with melodic instruments are also different from supporting instruments.

Systems

Basically, the tambura instruments can be distinguished by how many different sounds are voted their empty strings.

Two Coherent System

There are tambura instruments with four strings, which are arranged in pairs, ie 2 double strings at a distance of a fifth gd ( just some cg ). In this system earlier also unanimous Bisernicas and I. Brač (so-called Farkaš instruments) were filed, which all four strings are tuned to the same note. Even today there are tambura groups with such unanimous ( Farkaš ) instruments, but these instruments are largely voted in two voices.

Three Coherent System

These are tambura instruments with six strings, the pairs ( three double strings ) are spaced a fifth gda (some cgd )

Four Coherent System

There are also tambura instruments that are tuned to four sounds at a distance of a quart. This type of humor is also called " Sremski " or " srijemski STIM " (see Syrmia ). They usually have 5 strings, of which only the two thinnest are arranged in pairs, the other simple. (3 simple strings, a double string )

Mood of the instruments

All two-part tambura instruments are tuned in the same way ( gd ), but with just the one ( in general) play higher notes and the other deeper tones.

Exceptions to this are only the Čelović and III. Bisernica that are tuned differently. The empty strings are tuned with you on cg, recorded and played, but it is as if they are voted on gd ( as the other instruments). This is also known as so-called " transposed instruments " because the notation is different than their sound.

For example, the tone is heard c on both instruments actually as f In the III. Bisernica a fourth lower and deeper in the Čelović by a fifth. The musicians play both instruments in the same way - like all other two - or three-voice instruments.

The technique

The strings of a tambura you can with your fingers (usually the thumb ) pluck, but this is usually only the case if you want to play something really quiet. Usually you play the instruments but with the help of a Zupfblatts, the plectrum (on Croatian " trzalica " called ). Today, this pick is made of plastic ( celluloid ). Earlier, it was still made of horn or bark. In Berda it is made of leather.

There are two types of techniques: the simple plucking the strings or the so-called " trzanje ".

Pluck

Plucking means for each note the corresponding string is plucked once each ( top to bottom ) - either with your finger or a pick. How to play all short notes ( eighth, sixteenth, etc. ) and those which are listed as staccato (dot above the note ).

Tremolo

( Often also called " titranje " ) " trzanje " calls itself the technique in which one the string (s) brings as quickly as possible by means of the plectrum by rapid successive up and down movements of the hand in oscillation, a permanent, continuous sound arises. With this technique, longer notes (quarter, half, whole) and those which are marked as legato (connected), played. A good musician is characterized be a quick, sumptuous as possible, a very fine " trzanje ". Special emphasis must be placed with this technique that only the thumb is moved ( from the wrist ) and never the whole hand ( from the elbow off).

The " Bugaristen " also beat only by the movement of the thumb ( from the wrist ) over all strings ( from top to bottom ). Thus we obtain at a stroke a triad, that is, Chord. Apart from the impact on the open strings of the " Bugarist " must grab the other chords using handles. (Major, minor, seventh chords, ...). From time to have on the Bugarija also all the strings are struck at once: this is called then tremolo.

On the Berda ( bass) all notes are plucked out of a tremolo is required. In this case, the sound will be repeated as soon as possible and lush with the help of the plectrum. The Srijem musicians pluck usually only the eighth and sixteenth notes, quarter, half and whole notes they always play by the " trzanje ". ( However, it is more accurate to pluck all the notes and only the marked to bring a tremolo continuously with the plectrum to the blades. )

The tambura ensemble

In earlier times, played a tambura musician alone on his instrument. Even today you will find this before in many a small town in Croatia. It 's nice when a musician plays, but it is much more beautiful when two, three or more of them play together.

Usually, a small Croatian tambura group of 5 to 10 musicians. If there are more, so this is already a somewhat larger group. From about 20 musicians can also be described as the group orchestra.

A typical tambura ensemble usually consists of one to two Bisernica instruments, two to three Brač instruments, one to two Bugarija instruments and a Berda. The tambura instruments Čelo and Čelović come in tambura ensembles before rather less frequently.

There are many ways to form such a group. The most common composition is a group of 8 musicians: I. and II Bisernica, I, II and III. Brač, Brač Čelo - (or Čelović ), II Bugarija and a Berda. Most compositions are printed for such compositions.

While Bisernica Brač and play the melody that plays Berda the basic beat, and the guitar -like Bugarija the counter-attack. Bisernica and Brač identical structure and appearance forth with the Macedonian- Bulgarian tambura as well as the Macedonian- Bulgarian Tambura be played. Rarely it happens that Bisernica and Brač do not have oval, but a guitar -shaped body of sound. The Bugarija other hand, sees a guitar very similar, even from the stringing ago, and is played as a single Tamburica by chords. The Berda is the largest tambura instrument, namely a provided with frets bass, it is plucked with a plectrum.

Tambura ensembles are primarily found in Croatia, but also in Serbia, Hungary and Slovenia, and for example, in Austrian Burgenland and Carinthia, where Croatian and Slovenian minorities.

Tambura (instrument) Term of endearment Plucked string instrument History of the Assyrian people Bosnia (region) Perfect fifth Perfect fourth Triad (music)

761004