The tsymbaly (Ukrainian: цимбали) is the Ukrainian version of the hammer dulcimer. It is a chordophone made up of a trapezoidal box with metal (steel or bronze) strings strung across it. The tsymbaly is played by striking two beaters against the strings.
The strings are strung in groups of 3-5, which are tuned in unison. The bass strings may have 1 or 2 wrapped strings tuned in union. The beaters were quite short in comparison to those used by the Cymbalom although not as short as those of the Belarus variety. Traditionally they had leather wrappings rather than the cotton wrap used by Hungarian and Romanian players.
Under the Hornbostel-Sachs system of classification of musical instruments, it has the catalog number 314.122-4,5.[1]
A small multi-stringed chordophone was first was depicted on Assyrian frescoes dating back to 3500 B.C. It is thought to have developed from the Persiansantur, which entered Europe in the Middle Ages during the Crusades.
Eastern Europe
With the rise of piano manufacturing Vienna in the 19th century, access to metal tuning pins and strings became much easier. The hammered dulcimer became popular throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire, where it was quickly spread by itinerant Jewish and Romani (Gypsy) musicians. It spread to Romania, Moldavia, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine and Belarus, where a variety of regional folk versions and concert instruments were developed. These instruments differed in size, tuning, number of strings and method of holding and playing the hammers.
Ukraine
According to Hnat Khotkevych,[2] the tsymbaly has existed in Ukraine since the 9th century. The first documented evidence of the tsymbaly in Ukraine dates to 17th century, where it appears in various dictionaries.[3]
The tsymbaly were relatively easy to make and quite forgiving in its manufacture. With access to piano wire and metal tuning pegs, an instrument could easily be constructed in the village environment. The instrument spread in popularity among the population in the Carpathians in Southwestern Ukraine particularly among the Hutsuls and Bukovinians. It also became relatively popular in Boikivshchyna, Transcarpathia, Podolia, Bessarabia and Eastern Ukraine.
The instrument is often used in folk ensembles known as Troyista muzyka, usually made up of 3 instruments played in an ensemble with the violin, basolia, sopilka or bubon.
Tsymbaly in the Ukrainian diaspora
Tsymbaly playing is popular in Western Canada among the ethnic Ukrainian diaspora there.[4] Numerous music competitions exist, and the instrument defines what "Ukrainian-ness" is in the local music scene.
Types of Ukrainian Tsymbaly
1) The Hutsul tsymbaly: a small instrument usually carried by the musician, using a strap around the player's neck and leaning one edge of the instrument against the player's waist. These instruments usually have 12-13 courses of strings.
2) A semi-concert tsymbaly: manufactured by the Chernihiv Musical Instrument Factory in three sizes designed by Olexander Nezovybat'ko and Ivan Skliar. These instruments were manufactured from 1950-1986.
3) Concert cimbaloms: originally developed in Hungary by József Schunda in the 1870s. These instruments stand on four legs, have many more strings, and a damping pedal. The concert cymbalom has replaced most of the smaller folk tsymbaly previously used in Ukrainian orchestras and in Academic Conservatory courses. These instruments are fully chromatic and have a range of over four octaves.
Use of the Tsymbaly in Ukrainian music
Concert works have been composed for the tsymbaly by professional Ukrainian composers V. Shumeiko, Volodymyr Zubytsky, Anatoliy Haidenko, Bohdan Kotiuk, Izydor Vymer, Dezyderiy Zador, Myroslav Skoryk and Yevhen Stankovych.
Tsymbaly manufacturers in Ukraine
Among the first concert tsymbaly to be manufactured in Ukraine were made by the Melnytse-Podilsk workshop in Western Ukraine by Vasyl Zuliak. These instruments had two pedals and were slightly smaller than the concert Hungarian instruments, although the range was the same. Zuliak later made three different types of instrument.
Instruments were also made by the Chernihiv Musical Instrument Factory. These instruments were designed by Ivan Skliar aided by O. Nezovybat'ko. They were made in 3 sizes: prima, alto and bass.[5]
Bandera, M. J. The Tsymbaly maker and His Craft, The Ukrainian Hammered Dulcimer in Alberta. Edmonton: CIUS. 1991
Baran, T. The Cimbalom world, Lviv: Svit, 1999
- The Cimbalom player Taras Baran, Lviv: Kobzar, 2001
Humeniuk, A. Ukrainski narodni muzychni instrumenty, Kyiv: Naukova dumka, 1967
Ivanov, P. Orkestr ukrainskykh narodnykh instrmentiv, Kyiv: Muzychna Ukraina, 1981
Khotkevych, H. Instrumenty Ukrainskoho narodu, Kharkiv: DVU, 1930
Mizynec, V. Ukrainian Folk Instruments, Melbourne: Bayda books, 1984
Nezovybat'ko, O. Shkola hry na ukrainskykh tsymbalakh, Kyiv: Mystetsvo, 1966
Nezovyba'ko O. Ukrainski tsymbaly, Kyiv: Muzychna Ukraina, 1976.
Cherkaskyi, L. Ukrainski narodni muzychni instrumenty, Tekhnika, Kyiv, Ukraine, 2003 - 262 pages. ISBN966-575-111-5
External links
Samples and Pictures of Ukrainian Instruments
Doreen Girard, tsymbaly and visual artist.
January 31, 2023
tsymbaly, tsymbaly, ukrainian, цимбали, ukrainian, version, hammer, dulcimer, chordophone, made, trapezoidal, with, metal, steel, bronze, strings, strung, across, tsymbaly, played, striking, beaters, against, strings, classificationchordophonehornbostel, sachs. The tsymbaly Ukrainian cimbali is the Ukrainian version of the hammer dulcimer It is a chordophone made up of a trapezoidal box with metal steel or bronze strings strung across it The tsymbaly is played by striking two beaters against the strings TsymbalyClassificationChordophoneHornbostel Sachs classification314 122 4Playing rangevariousRelated instrumentsChang cimbal Cimbalom cymbalom cymbalum Hackbrett Joqin Kanun ţambal tsymbaly tsimbl Qanun Santir santouri santur hammered dulcimer ţambal Tamthap luk Tsintsila TympaniThe strings are strung in groups of 3 5 which are tuned in unison The bass strings may have 1 or 2 wrapped strings tuned in union The beaters were quite short in comparison to those used by the Cymbalom although not as short as those of the Belarus variety Traditionally they had leather wrappings rather than the cotton wrap used by Hungarian and Romanian players Under the Hornbostel Sachs system of classification of musical instruments it has the catalog number 314 122 4 5 1 Contents 1 History 1 1 Eastern Europe 1 2 Ukraine 1 3 Tsymbaly in the Ukrainian diaspora 2 Types of Ukrainian Tsymbaly 3 Use of the Tsymbaly in Ukrainian music 4 Tsymbaly manufacturers in Ukraine 5 Prominent Tsymbaly players of Ukraine 6 See also 7 Footnotes 8 Sources 9 External linksHistory EditA small multi stringed chordophone was first was depicted on Assyrian frescoes dating back to 3500 B C It is thought to have developed from the Persian santur which entered Europe in the Middle Ages during the Crusades Eastern Europe Edit With the rise of piano manufacturing Vienna in the 19th century access to metal tuning pins and strings became much easier The hammered dulcimer became popular throughout the Austro Hungarian Empire where it was quickly spread by itinerant Jewish and Romani Gypsy musicians It spread to Romania Moldavia Hungary Slovakia Ukraine and Belarus where a variety of regional folk versions and concert instruments were developed These instruments differed in size tuning number of strings and method of holding and playing the hammers Ukraine Edit According to Hnat Khotkevych 2 the tsymbaly has existed in Ukraine since the 9th century The first documented evidence of the tsymbaly in Ukraine dates to 17th century where it appears in various dictionaries 3 The tsymbaly were relatively easy to make and quite forgiving in its manufacture With access to piano wire and metal tuning pegs an instrument could easily be constructed in the village environment The instrument spread in popularity among the population in the Carpathians in Southwestern Ukraine particularly among the Hutsuls and Bukovinians It also became relatively popular in Boikivshchyna Transcarpathia Podolia Bessarabia and Eastern Ukraine The instrument is often used in folk ensembles known as Troyista muzyka usually made up of 3 instruments played in an ensemble with the violin basolia sopilka or bubon Tsymbaly in the Ukrainian diaspora Edit Tsymbaly playing is popular in Western Canada among the ethnic Ukrainian diaspora there 4 Numerous music competitions exist and the instrument defines what Ukrainian ness is in the local music scene Types of Ukrainian Tsymbaly Edit1 The Hutsul tsymbaly a small instrument usually carried by the musician using a strap around the player s neck and leaning one edge of the instrument against the player s waist These instruments usually have 12 13 courses of strings 2 A semi concert tsymbaly manufactured by the Chernihiv Musical Instrument Factory in three sizes designed by Olexander Nezovybat ko and Ivan Skliar These instruments were manufactured from 1950 1986 3 Concert cimbaloms originally developed in Hungary by Jozsef Schunda in the 1870s These instruments stand on four legs have many more strings and a damping pedal The concert cymbalom has replaced most of the smaller folk tsymbaly previously used in Ukrainian orchestras and in Academic Conservatory courses These instruments are fully chromatic and have a range of over four octaves Use of the Tsymbaly in Ukrainian music EditConcert works have been composed for the tsymbaly by professional Ukrainian composers V Shumeiko Volodymyr Zubytsky Anatoliy Haidenko Bohdan Kotiuk Izydor Vymer Dezyderiy Zador Myroslav Skoryk and Yevhen Stankovych Tsymbaly manufacturers in Ukraine EditAmong the first concert tsymbaly to be manufactured in Ukraine were made by the Melnytse Podilsk workshop in Western Ukraine by Vasyl Zuliak These instruments had two pedals and were slightly smaller than the concert Hungarian instruments although the range was the same Zuliak later made three different types of instrument Instruments were also made by the Chernihiv Musical Instrument Factory These instruments were designed by Ivan Skliar aided by O Nezovybat ko They were made in 3 sizes prima alto and bass 5 Prominent Tsymbaly players of Ukraine EditSome notable Ukrainian tsymbaly players are Taras Baran Professor of tsymbaly at the Lviv Conservatory Gheorghe Agratina Professor of tsymbaly at the Kyiv Conservatory Dumitru Popiciuc One of the first tsymbaly graduates from the Kyiv Conservatory Oleksander Nezovybatko One of the pioneers of tsymbaly playing in Eastern Ukraine See also EditHammered dulcimer Cimbalom Ukrainian folk music KhimFootnotes Edit Baran T The Cimbalom world Lviv Svit 1999 P 15 Khotkevych H Instrumenty Ukrainskoho narodu Kharkiv DVU 1930 p 78 Humeniuk p 107 Bandera p 6 Mizynec p 19Sources EditBandera M J The Tsymbaly maker and His Craft The Ukrainian Hammered Dulcimer in Alberta Edmonton CIUS 1991 Baran T The Cimbalom world Lviv Svit 1999 The Cimbalom player Taras Baran Lviv Kobzar 2001 Humeniuk A Ukrainski narodni muzychni instrumenty Kyiv Naukova dumka 1967 Ivanov P Orkestr ukrainskykh narodnykh instrmentiv Kyiv Muzychna Ukraina 1981 Khotkevych H Instrumenty Ukrainskoho narodu Kharkiv DVU 1930 Mizynec V Ukrainian Folk Instruments Melbourne Bayda books 1984 Nezovybat ko O Shkola hry na ukrainskykh tsymbalakh Kyiv Mystetsvo 1966 Nezovyba ko O Ukrainski tsymbaly Kyiv Muzychna Ukraina 1976 Cherkaskyi L Ukrainski narodni muzychni instrumenty Tekhnika Kyiv Ukraine 2003 262 pages ISBN 966 575 111 5External links EditSamples and Pictures of Ukrainian Instruments Doreen Girard tsymbaly and visual artist Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tsymbaly amp oldid 1096033376, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
