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A musical instrument that looks like a tortoise shell. What did the buffoons make people laugh with

The ancestors of modern turtles lived on Earth side by side with dinosaurs.

The shell, which covers the entire body of the turtle, with the exception of the head, paws and tail, distinguishes it from all vertebrates. The upper part of the shell is called a shield or carapace, it is usually domed in land turtles and flatter in turtles that live mainly in water to reduce water pressure. The shield on the sides of the body is connected to the lower part of the shell, the plastron, consists of bone, on top of its shields are covered with horny plates.

For fixation, the ribs, vertebrae, pelvic and shoulder girdle are fused with the shell. The holes in the shell are arranged so that the limbs are easily retracted.

The appearance of the shells depends on environment. The shape of the shell - an amazing invention of nature for the passive protection of turtles - depends on the lifestyle of these animals. The carapace of land tortoises is usually high, domed, often uneven, individual scutes can be in the form of small domes, pyramids. Carapace turtles living in denser than air, aquatic environment, as a rule, flattened, smooth, streamlined, its dome is small. sea turtles went even further in adapting to the aquatic environment, their shell is drop-shaped, most perfect form to achieve high speed in the water.

The oldest and most common in Africa (especially in Central and South, on some of the Antilles).

Origin

During the European colonization of America, the kalimba was brought by Negro slaves to Cuba, where it still exists. Her wonderful sounds can be heard, for example, in the music of the group Earth, Wind & Fire.

Application

Used in traditional ceremonies and by professional musicians. It is called "African manual"; this is a rather virtuoso instrument, designed to perform melodic patterns, but it is also quite suitable for playing chords. Mostly used as an accompanying instrument.

big kalimbas give a unique low rumble to the lively bass rhythms of African music, small emit a completely ghostly, fragile sound, similar to a music box.

Kalimba device

On the resonator body (it can be of various shapes) there is a row or several rows of wooden, bamboo or metal reed plates that serve as a sound source. The simplest samples have a flat one, the more complex ones have a cavity resonator made of tortoise shell, dugout wood, hollow pumpkin, etc., reeds (4-30) are attached to the resonator board. A high threshold limits the sounding part of the reeds.

When playing (standing, on the move, sitting), the kalimba is clamped with the palms of the hands bent at right angles and tightly pressed to the sides, or they are held on their knees, large and index fingers both hands pinch and release the free (upper) ends of the tongues, bringing them into a state of vibration.

Kalimbas come in various sizes; body length 100-350 mm, tongue length 30-100 mm, width 3-5 mm.

Kalimba scale depends on the number of tongues.

Kalimba scales among different peoples

bakwe(Congo): a1, f1, d1, c1, e1, g1, h1;
lemba(S. Africa): b1, g1, f1, g, c1, h, d1, c2;
bakvenda(South Africa): b, as, f1, f, e1, es, c1, H, d1, des, ges1, ges, b.

Video: Kalimba on video + sound

Thanks to these videos, you can get acquainted with the tool, see real game on it, listen to its sound, feel the specifics of the technique.

Continuing the theme of wandering mercenaries, let's get acquainted with those musical instruments with which they ridiculed human vices and topical problems. After all, music is the basis of their creativity.

Buffoons wandered from village to village, and therefore their tools were small in size and light in weight. The repertoire of the mercenaries was varied and required not only cheerful snots and balalaikas, but also psaltery to accompany ballads.

The most common musical instruments of the buffoons were balalaikas, domras, psaltery, tambourines, horns, bagpipes, pipes and pity. Everyone has been familiar with the balalaika for a long time, and now let's look at other instruments.

Domra . We used to think that in this word the stress falls on the first syllable, but some linguists suggest that it is still on the last one. This three-string plucked instrument came to Rus' during the time of the Mongol-Tatars, but gained wide popularity only in the 16-17 centuries. Moreover, it sounded not only at the performances of wandering mercenaries, but also at princely courts.

Domra is similar in sound and appearance to a balalaika, but its body (or body) has the shape of a hemisphere. It is played with an oval plectrum (pick). best material for its manufacture is now considered a tortoise shell. The main technique of the game is tremolo. This is when a domrist (that's what the performer is called) often and quickly strikes the strings up and down.

Domra disappeared along with her craftsmen - buffoons. “Resurrected” her in 1896 by V. V. Andreev, musician and researcher folk music. Domra acquired its modern look thanks to him.

Gusli . This is one of the most ancient Russian stringed instruments. IN popular consciousness the sound of the harp is considered noble. Epics were sung to their accompaniment of the harpist, and in folk epic famous heroes play on them.

There is a version that this instrument came to our ancestors from Greece as a kind of cithara. But, in fact, the cithara itself, and the harp, and the lyre, and the Russian gusli have a common “ancestor” - the oldest plucked instrument, which is conventionally called the gusli. But from the Russian gusli came the Chuvash and Mari gusli, Finnish kantele, Latvian kokle and Lithuanian kankles.

There are pterygoid, helmet-shaped and lyre-shaped gusli. At the beginning of the 20th century, keyboard harps, reminiscent of a piano, were also invented.

Tambourine . Do you think there is nothing to say about the tambourine? What is this simple piece of leather stretched over a hoop? But no. To begin with, at least with the fact that this is the most ancient percussion instrument. He has many "relatives" known to all peoples of the world (tympanum, tambourine). The peculiarity of its simple design is that metal plates or bells can be fixed on the rim, then you can either knock on it or ring them. And now he is extremely popular in all kinds of music: from ethno, to pop and rock.

Horn. The first association with the name of this instrument is a trumpet or something like that. But no! Horn - string bowed instrument. It has a pear-shaped body with a flat soundboard, a short neck and 3-4 strings. One of them solos, and the rest make a sound constantly. It was played with a short bow resembling a hunting bow. The horn body was mounted either vertically or horizontally, like a guitar.

Gudok is a truly Russian instrument, in musical history neither similar instruments nor its "ancestors" or "descendants" are known. As well as the balalaika and domra, the beep disappeared along with the buffoonery. And until now it remains an "extinct" instrument.

Bagpipes . In ancient times, this instrument was distributed not only in Scotland, but throughout Europe, including Rus'. True, among our ancestors it was not particularly popular - its sound was considered ugly and monotonous. But buffoons blew her with a bang. The Slavic bagpipe was made of mutton or goat skin and had 4 pipes: air was pumped through one, two hummed in bass, and they played on the third. In Ukraine, the bagpipe was called a "goat", and it was even decorated with a goat's head and clay hooves. And in the 19th century, the Russian bagpipe “died out”: it was finally supplanted by the button accordion and accordion.

Dudka . This is a simple wooden tube with different number holes and a mouthpiece for blowing air. It could be from 20 to 50 cm, straight or with an extension at the end, as well as a conical shape. In Ukraine, it was called a sopilka or snot.

The pipe in Rus', along with the balalaika, was very popular. There are many sayings and proverbs about her. For example, the expression "to blow your own tune" means that a person repeats the same thing without looking at anything. And the meaning of the words "dance to someone else's tune" is known to everyone.

zhaleika . This is a wooden pipe with 6 holes and a cow horn bell at the end. It is also called zhalomeyka or brelka, and it was widely used not only by buffoons, but also by shepherds. They play the zhaleyka, as on an ordinary pipe, but the sound of the zhaleyka is higher and more piercing, not very pleasant to the ear.

Many musical instruments of antiquity originate from neighboring cultures (the region of Asia Minor, the Middle East and the Mediterranean). In Greece, however, special instruments were developed, which, as a result of development, acquired a classic look and became the basis for creating new ones. modern species tools.

When studying the musical instruments of ancient Greece, they can be divided into three main categories: strings, winds and percussion.

Strings

lyre guitar
triangle-harp
pandura - A small lute similar to a mandolin or guitar

All stringed instruments were plucked, played on them, plucking the strings. Strings with a bow were not found at all.

Lyre guitars were the most popular instruments along with others. Their origin goes back to Mesopotamia. The first evidence of a lyre is found in the palace of Pylos in Crete (1400 BC). Lyra was identified with Apollo. According to mythology, it was invented by Hermes. When Apollo discovered that Hermes had stolen the bulls from him, he began to pursue him. Hermes, who was running away from persecution, trying to hide, accidentally stepped on a tortoise shell. Noticing that the shell amplifies the sound, he made the first lyre and presented it to Apollo, thus tempering his anger.

The principle of the structure of the first lyre. Two thin slats (hands) were fixed on the resonator made of tortoise shell or wood. A transverse beam was located vertically to the rails on the upper part. strings equal length were made from dried and twisted intestines, tendons or flax. They were fixed at the point of the chord on the resonator, passing through a small comb, on the upper side they were twisted on the bar according to the key system (pegs), which facilitated their tuning. There were originally three strings, later there were four, five, seven, and in the period “ new music their number reached twelve. The lyre was played with the right hand or with a plectrum made of horn, wood, bone or metal. Left hand helped by playing on individual strings, pressing them down, reducing the pitch. The strings had specific names, coinciding with the names of the notes.

There are many types of lira with various titles:

"formings" (ancient lyre)

"Helis" ("Helona" - turtle)

"varvitos" (with long slats).

These terms are often confused when used.

The triangle is a small knee harp with many strings. It has been found in the Middle East since the 3rd century BC. BC e. In Greece, it is present in the Cycladic culture.

The "pandura", "panduris" or "three-string" with a long sleeve, a resonator and three strings in the form of a tambour was played with a plectrum. This instrument was rarely used in Greece and it has been known since ancient times that its origin is not Greek, but Assyrian.

Brass

Wind instruments fall into two main categories:

Pipes (with tongue)

Pipes (without reed)

Less commonly used wind instruments, such as pipes, shells, and "hydraulics".

Syringa (flute)

Flutes (trumpets) or pipes were the most popular instruments in ancient greece. They appeared in the 3rd millennium BC. e. (Cycladic figurine). Their origin probably refers to Asia Minor and they came to the territory of Greece through Thrace.

One of the legends says that the flute was invented by Athena, who, seeing her distorted reflection in the water while playing it, threw it far into Phrygia. There she was found by Marsyas, who became very a good performer, and subsequently he invited Apollo to the competition. Apollo won and, in punishment, he hanged Marsyas and flayed his skin. (This legend can be interpreted as a struggle national art against foreign intrusion).

The widespread use of the flute began after the eighth century, when it gradually began to occupy an important place in Greek music and, in particular, in the cult of Dionysus. The flute is a trumpet made of reed, wood, bone or metal with holes that open and close with the fingers, and a mouthpiece with a reed tongue - one or double (like a modern zurna). The flutist almost always played two flutes at the same time and tied them for convenience with a leather strap to his face, the so-called halter.

Svirel

The ancient Greeks called this term the multi-leaved pipe or pan pipe. This is an object of 13-18 wings, closed on one side and interconnected with wax and linen with vertical supports. They played it by blowing each leaf at an angle. It was the tool of the shepherds and therefore it was associated with the name of the god Pan. In his book The Republic, Plato urged citizens to play only lyres, guitars and shepherd's pipes, refusing "polysonic" flutes and multi-stringed instruments, considering them vulgar.

Hydraulics

These are the first keyboard instruments in the world and the "ancestors" of the church organ. They were created in the 3rd century. BC e. by the Greek inventor Ktisivius in Alexandria. These are one or more pipes with or without reeds, on which the performer, using a valve mechanism, could, using plectrums, supply air selectively to each flute. The source of constant air pressure was a hydraulic system.

Pipe

The copper pipe was known in Mesopotamia and among the Etruscans. The trumpets announced the war, they were used during chariot races and folk gatherings. It is an instrument of late antiquity. Apart from copper pipes, used shells with a small hole at the base and horns.

What musical instrument did Hermes invent by stretching bull sinews over a turtle shell?

Alternative descriptions

Monetary unit of Italy (replaced by euro in 2002), Turkey, Malta

constellation northern hemisphere

Ancient stringed musical instrument

. "Music" currency

A musical instrument that has become a symbol of poetry

Tail of a male grouse

northern constellation

. "Harp" in the hands of a poetic muse

. "Gusli" of the poet

. "Music" currency

. "Musical" currency and constellation

100 Turkish piastres

aquarium fish

antique harp

Antique strumpet

The antique brewer that became the Italian currency

Orpheus harp

Brenchalka that became a currency

Former currency of Italy

Former currency of the Romans

In the hands of the muse Erato

Currency of the Vatican

Currency of Italy

Turkish currency

Currency of Turkey and Italy

Currency in Italy before the euro

Currency in Rome to Euro

Currency in Istanbul

Currency at the box office of Roman shops

The currency that roamed the streets of Rome

The currency that walked the streets of Rome

Gusli in the distant, distant past

Turkish banknote

Macaroni money

ancient harp

J. musical instrument of the ancients; now it has been changed into ryli, which are played, humming, by the blind in Little Russia and the overseas beggars in St. Petersburg. A New Holland bird with a lyre tail. One of the northern constellations. Lyre, relating to the lyre. Liran m. tulip tree, tulip, Lireodendron tulipifera. Lyric m. or lyric poet; lyrical poetry is opposed to epic and includes: odes, hymns, songs, where not action, but feeling dominates. Lyricism m. lyrical spirit, direction; uplifting, inspirational chant

Female name

Instrument of Orpheus

Terpsichore instrument

Tool in the tail of a bird

Instrument of the poetic muse

Historical currency of Italy

Italian monetary "contribution" to music

Between Hercules and the Swan

Musical symbol of the poet's inspiration

The name of which constellation is due to the fact that Zeus, in gratitude for the skillful game of Orpheus, placed his golden kithara in the sky

Muse weapon

Great-grandmother of the harp

Symbol of inspiration

Poetry symbol

Constellation with star Vega

Hundred Turkish piastres

The fact that Nekrasov "dedicated to his people"

Turkish currency

What is in the hands of the muse of poetry Euterpe

Ex currency of Italy

Excurrency Made in Italy

Alarm good feelings(poetic)

Monetary unit, = 100 piastres (kurush), Vatican, Italy, Turkey

Ancient Greek stringed musical instrument, a symbol of poetic creativity and inspiration

Ancient Greek stringed plucked musical instrument in the shape of an oval open-topped frame with smoothly curved rounded ends

Spanish automatic pistol

Extreme tail feathers, strongly (lyre-shaped) curved outward in the black grouse

Symbol of art (figuratively)

Constellation with the main star Vega

constellation northern hemisphere

Tail of a male grouse

Hermes made this tool from a tortoise shell.

Symbol of poetic creativity, inspiration

According to the accompaniment of what instrument, according to the ancient Greeks, the poems of Sappho, Anacreon, Pindar, Yesenin were born

What constellation is the star Vega in?

stringed bowed musical instrument

Musical instrument of Orpheus

Musical instrument of Terpsichore

Musical symbol of inspiration

Monetary unit of Italy

Monetary unit of the Vatican

Monetary unit of Malta

Turkish currency

20 soldo before 1947

In Italy before the euro

Constellation

In Erato's hand

In the hand of Euterpe

20 soldi until 1947

Harp prototype

Emblem of military bands

. "... over the grave" from Pushkin's poem "Anacreon's Coffin"

Ancient stringed musical instrument

The emblem and attribute of the poet

To the accompaniment of what instrument, according to the ancient Greeks, were the poems of Sappho, Anacreon, Pindar, Yesenin born?

What musical instrument did Hermes invent by stretching bull veins over a turtle shell?

The name of which constellation is associated with the fact that Zeus, in gratitude for the skillful game of Orpheus, placed his golden kithara in the sky?

. "gusli" of the poet

What constellation is the star Vega in?

The fact that Nekrasov "dedicated to his people"

. "musical" currency

. "musical" currency and constellation

Italian monetary "contribution" to music

What is in the hands of the muse of poetry Euterpe?

. "harp" in the hands of a poetic muse

. "... over the grave" from Pushkin's poem "Anacreon's Coffin"

Excurrency Made in Italy

Italian money

Northern constellations. and "gusli" of the poet