Zhaleika
 Zhaleika | |
| Woodwind instrument | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Zhalomeika, sopel’, pishchelka, fletnya, duda, zgaleyka, zhalijka, rizhok |
| Classification | Single-reed aerophone |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 422.211.2 |
| Timbre | Piercing and nasal, sad and compassionate |
| Volume | High |
| Attack | Fast |
| Decay | Fast |
| Related instruments | |
| Hornpipe,clarinet,pishchiki | |
| Musicians | |
| V.V. Andreyev | |
Thezhaleika(Russian:жале́йка), also known asbryolka(брёлка), is a Slavic wind instrument, most used inBelarusian,Russianand sometimesUkrainianethnic music.[1]Also known as a "folk clarinet" orhornpipe.The zhaleika was eventually incorporated into thebalalaikaband, the Hungariantarogato,and may have contributed to the development of thechalumeau,a predecessor of theclarinet.[2]
Construction and design[edit]
The zhaleika consists of a singlereedthat can be covered by amouthpiece(or "wind cap" ). The design consists of a wooden barrel (pipe) with finger holes and a flared bell that can be made of either natural or man-made materials.[1]It can either consist of a single or a double pipe.
The single pipe is about 10–20 cm long with 3 to 7 finger holes. The reed is made out of eithercaneorgoose feather,and the end bell is made of cow horn orbirch bark.The double type consists of two pipes and one bell, and is found mainly in the southern parts of Russia.[3]
Tuning[edit]
The zhaleika hasdiatonictuning and comes in various keys (G,A,D, sometimes C,E,F). It has a natural or "normal"sopranovoice, but can perform inaltoorpiccoloforms. It is tuned by adjusting the reed and can be tuned to themajor scaleormixolydian modewith flattened 7th note. Only an octave's worth of notes can be played.[1]Itstimbreis described as "piercing and nasal, sad and compassionate".[3] There are some chromatic variations of modern zhaleika too.
Origination and uses[edit]
The zhaleika was ashepherd's instrument used to performsolos,duets,orensemblepieces. The earliest single-reed pipe instruments date back to about 2700 BCE inEgypt,where most of these instruments most commonly had double pipes and used idioglot reeds.[4]The earliest evidence of the zhaleika was in A. Tuchkov's notes dating back to the late 18th century. It was widely spread in Russia,Belarus,Ukraine,andLithuania,but now can only be seen infolk musicorchestras. In 1900,V. V. Andreyevincorporated a modified zhaleika - calledbryolka- into orchestras. It consisted of a double-reedoboetype with additional finger holes and vents forchromatic scale.[4]
In Slavic cultureszhaleikawas a well known funeral instrument and its name is near to a word that means "compassionate". Zhaleikasounds in many compositions of Belarusian folk-metal bandZnich,Ukrainian metal bandsChurandHASPYD,Ukrainian ethnic bandDakhaBrakha. Zhaleikasound like a one piped bagpipe.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^abcLaPasha, Robin (2006)."Zhaleika".The Russ Wind Homepage.Retrieved16 September2013.
- ^Kroll, O (1968).The Clarinet.New York, NY: Taplinger Publishing Company.
- ^ab"Zhaleika".Russia-InfoCentre.2009.Retrieved16 September2013.
- ^abMidgley, Ruth (1976).Musical Instruments of the World: An Illustrated Encyclopedia.Facts on File.ISBN9780816013098.
External links[edit]
- HORNPIPES: Russian Zhaleika Tunesian Ma-gru-nah SEAN FOLSOMonYouTube
- ZhaleikaonYouTubePictorial instructional on how to make a zhaleika(in Russian)
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