Zhaleika

The Schaleika (Russian Жалейка / žalejka, in the English section also zhaleyka / jaleika ) is a wind instrument that was originally played by shepherds and is used today in the Russian folklore. Your penetrating, slightly raspy sound is produced by a single-reed. The sound pipe of reeds, willow or elder is 10-20 cm long. At its lower end, a horn of cow horn or birch bark attached. Thus, the Schaleijka is one of the horn pipes. The sound tube has three to seven finger holes. The mood is in the diatonic scale, up to an octave. The Schalejka is not overblown.

In southern Russia also double Schalejkas be used in which two sound tubes are connected open into a horn flare. You are blown individually or jointly. The melody pipe carrying handle has more holes than the accompanying.

The term žalejka is literary occupied first at AA Tuchov ( 1778-1812 ). Earlier forms of the instrument but behind other names, such as the "little horn shepherds " to suspect. Besides žalejka žalomejka used. Russian etymologists bring the Old Church Slavonic with žalnik " grave " in connection, and indicate the name of the instrument in regard to its use in funeral ceremonies. More likely to žalomejka / žalejka should however be derived from the French Chalumeau. This also fits the appearance of that name in the course of the 18th ct.

In the area of Tver, the instruments are all made ​​of the material of a willow that there brediny (Russian бредины ) is called. Therefore, also in common use for the Schalejka name Briolka ( брёлка ) should come. As Brjolka VV Andreyev also designated a shawm with double reed instrument and flaps, which he built in 1900 in his Folk Ensemble. Other names of the Schalejka are sopjel ( сопель ) pischtschelka ( пищелка ) fletnja ( флетня ) and duda ( дуда ).