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Encyclopedia > Cimbalom

It is also possible that you want to know about the Cymbal instrument.


Cymbalum
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Cymbalum
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Overview

The cymbalum, cymbalom, cimbalom( most common spelling), ţambal, tsymbaly, or santouri is a musical instrument found mainly in the Gypsy music of Hungary, Romania, and Ukraine. In Czechoslovakia it was also known as a Cimbal. It is related to the hammered dulcimer of Western Europe.


History

The small cymbalum developed from the Persian santur, which entered Europe during the Middle Ages. The instrument became popular with Romanian Gypsy musicians (lăutari) around the 19th century; by the end of the century was quite widespread, taking over from the cobza. [1] (http://www.eliznik.org.uk/RomaniaMusic/tambal.htm) In Wallachia and Muntenia it is used almost as a percussion instrument. In Transylvania and Banat, the style of play is more tonal, heavy with arpeggios.


The santur (also often called the India), Spread throughout the world. It was not only modified by nomadic Romani Gypsies and brought to Eastern Europe The Balkans but it also appeared in many other cultures:

Types

The small cymbalum is 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. The cymbalum is played by striking two beaters against the strings.


In Hungary, a larger concert cymbalum, comparable in pitch range (and weight) to a small piano _ but still played in the normal way with beaters _ was first developed by József Schunda in the 1870s. It stands on four legs, has many more strings, and the later models had a damping pedal. [Prior to this, the player damped the strings by using his coat sleeves]. This instrument eventually found its way to districts of Romania because these were all part of the Austro-Hungarian empire.


A small cymbalum was also later produced in The Ukraine during the 1950's that came with attachable legs and dampers but could be carried more easily than a concert instrument. These instruments were produced by the Chernihiv factory which produced many types of folk instruments.


Players & Places

One composer to make use of the cymbalum was Zoltán Kodály. His orchestral suite, Háry János, made extensive use of the instrument and helped make the cymbalum well known outside Eastern Europe. Stravinsky was also an enthusiast, and he owned one.

Image:P_cimbalom.jpeg
Hungarian concert cymbalum

The instrument is known by different names in different countries and when played in different styles, roughly:

Some well known cymbalum players:





  Results from FactBites:
 
Cimbalom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (620 words)
The cymbalum, cymbalom, cimbalom (most common spelling), ĹŁambal, tsymbaly, tsimbl, santouri, or santur is a musical instrument found mainly in the music of Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Greece and Iran.
In Hungary, the larger, concert cimbalom, comparable in pitch range (and weight) to a small piano—but still normally played with beaters—was first developed by József Schunda in the 1870s.
Cimbalom was used in the film score for the movie In the Heat of the Night (1967).
  More results at FactBites »

 

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