The story of the gusli instrument. What is gusli? Description, tool features and interesting facts
Basic information
The oldest stringed plucked musical instrument, under the name of which in Russia are understood several varieties of recumbents. The psalted harp is similar to the Greek psalter and the Jewish kinnor; these include: Chuvash gusli, Cheremis gusli, clavier-shaped gusli and gusli, resembling Finnish, Latvian kukles and Lithuanian kankles.
We are talking about instruments that existed on the territory of Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Finland and some other European countries. These instruments are united by an exclusively constructive feature: a fan of strings, a string holder, a peg row and a resonator located under the strings for the entire length of the string. In the design of each individual instrument, features and exceptions are possible, but the listed four parts are usually present.
Origin
The history of the Slavic gusli, and the Finnish, and the Estonian kannel, and the Latvian kokle, and the Lithuanian kankles, and all the instruments from the same list not mentioned here are reduced to the same roots at some stage. Only on what? Nobody has accurate information. There is too much speculation in the literature about the "where" and "when" of this stage. But only conjectures, only conjectures.
There are also opinions that stringed instruments of this kind came from the east (China - the guqin stringed instrument was known long before the birth of Christ), and versions that the Romans brought lyre-like instruments far to the north during colonization ... And how many opinions are expressed in different countries about originality native species tool! The Finns say that Veimemöinen (the source of Kalevala) did it for the first time. Scientists from Belarus and Russia argue that the gusli is a slightly modernized “musical bow” (a primitive folk musical instrument known in all countries) and the harp could arise as a musical bow with many strings anywhere, quite a long time ago and completely original.
In ancient times, the elastic bow string was called differently - "gusla". Here is one of the hypotheses for the origin of the name of the instrument. And by attaching a hollow vessel to a string, we get a primitive musical instrument. So: strings and a resonator that amplifies their sound is the main principle of this plucked instrument.
In the Old Russian manuscript, “The Tale of a Belarusian Man and Monasticism”, the miniaturist depicted in the letter “D” the figure of the king (possibly the psalmist David) playing the harp. Their form corresponds to the instrument that existed in those days in Russia. These are the so-called "helmet-like" harps. The shape of their body really resembles a helmet. Subsequently, the shape of the flat resonator box changed. Trapezoidal gusli appeared. The number of strings on the instrument has decreased, and the shape of the body has also changed. So the winged gusli appeared.
Back in the 9th century, the Slavs surprised the kings of Byzantium with the harp. In those distant times, the psaltery was made from dugout dry boards of spruce or maple. Maple "Yavor" is especially loved by musical craftsmen. This is where the name of the harp comes from - “Yarovchatye”. / And as soon as the strings began to be pulled from metal, the harp rang and began to be called “voiced”.
The fate of this instrument has long been associated with the folk song and epic tradition. For centuries, craftsmen have passed on the secrets of making gusli. Goose tunes, songs of singers, were loved by both the people and the kings. But often folk singers sang unflatteringly about the authorities.
The persecution of the harpists (this word sounds so correct), or, as the harpists began to call them disparagingly, did an unkind service to the fate of the instrument. Interest in his improvement was not the same as he was in fate. But time has changed this ancient instrument. Its design, body shape, wood processing technology, varnishes, decorative finishes - all this has long removed the harp from the category of an archaic, purely folk instrument, turning it into a stage professional instrument with a rich and unique sound.
Gusli in our time
Today, every orchestra of folk instruments includes a plucked harp - a table-shaped harp and a keyboard harp. The sound of these instruments gives the orchestra a unique flavor of ancient goose chimes.
Currently, interest in the harp has grown markedly. Modern harp players appeared - storytellers who set out to recreate the ancient tradition of both playing the harp and singing to the harp. Along with three types of plucked harps, the main technique of playing which is plucking and rattling, keyboard harps also appeared. The mechanics installed on them, when you press the keys, open the strings, and makes it possible to select the desired chord. This greatly simplifies playing the harp as an accompanying instrument.
Gusli types
Gusli with a game window. Gusli or lyre?
Archaeologists find such tools in layers of the 11th-13th centuries. The finds known to me were made in three cities: Gdansk (Poland), Opole (Poland) and Novgorod (Russia). What unites these places? All three cities stand on major water trade routes. Gdansk is on the coast of the Baltic Sea, Opole is on the Odra, Novgorod (Veliky, of course) is on the Volkhov.
Structurally, this instrument, it would seem, corresponds to the definition of a gusli: a fan of strings, a peg row, a string holder, a resonator.
Let's take a closer look:
1) Shape of the tailpiece: the crossbar of the tailpiece is fixed in the cleats. This is a transitional form between the archaic, found on lyre-like bowed and plucked strings (the crossbar of the string holder rests on leather straps fixed on the body), and the later form of the string holder, a unique gussel form not found on other musical instruments (a wooden bracket with a crossbar of the tailpiece).
2) Pegs row: located at an angle to the tailpiece, gradually shortening the strings from the bass to the top (unlike lyre-like instruments, where the length of all strings is relatively equal). The peg row is not in all specimens located in a straight line, often curved in an arc. The helmet-shaped harp (already common in the 11th-13th centuries under consideration) very much resembles the peg row.
3) Fan of strings: typical goose fan, i.e. the strings do not run parallel, and the distance between the strings closer to the pegs increases.
4) Body and resonator: the body is slotted, closed from the side of the strings by a resonator board, but the resonator does not reach the peg row. Between the body and the peg row there is an area of the playing window. It reaches in some instances 1/3 of the length of the string. This design feature is inherent in lyres, but not in harps. However, unlike many lyre-like instruments, the virbelbank (seal for screwing in the pegs) and virbelbank supports (sides of the playing window) are part of the body (made with the body from a single piece of wood).
Conclusions and assumptions:
It is very likely that the harp with a playing window is a descendant of northern lyre-like instruments. It is easy to trace this evolution: over time, the harp style of playing (the harp on the knees, leaning against the stomach) displaces the lyre (vertical). According to archaeological finds, it can be seen that over time, the role of the window decreases, it acquires more decorative significance, and, finally, the harp with the playing window disappears altogether, giving way to the wing-shaped harp, which already existed unchanged in the folk tradition until the 20th century.
Were there such harps in Belarus? Most likely they were. There are no direct indications of this, but there are indirect ones. The first mention of the harp in the Belarusian lands dates back to the 12th century (in the works of Kirill Turovsky, and the fact that it was the harp that was meant, and not any other instrument called this “universal word” is clear from the context). It could be either a helmet-shaped harp or with a playing window. Only these types of gusli existed in the 12th century. Where could a harp with a playing window in Belarus meet? By analogy with the cities: Novgorod, Opole, Gdansk, in Belarus these could be cities on the banks of navigable rivers, trade routes: the Dnieper, the Western Dvina, Pripyat, the Neman, the Bug.
So, harp or lyre? Doubts, as you can see, are well founded. The fact that this instrument is a transitional stage between the harp and the lyre is obvious. Structurally and in sound, it is still a lyre, but in terms of repertoire and playing techniques, it is a harp. Because It is impossible to unequivocally call this instrument a lyre, I recommend calling it a harp, but always highlighting them in a separate class and emphasizing the presence of a playing window.
Helmet-shaped harp
Here the information is entirely circumstantial. There are very few archaeological finds. All the finds known to me are from Novgorod. The main indirect source confirming the existence of this instrument are images in manuscripts and temples. Most of the images of the harp in these sources, with varying degrees of reliability, are images of helmet-shaped harp. The letter "D" of the Novgorod Missal with the image of Tsar David playing such a harp is known. Maybe that's why I have an association with the helmet-shaped harp when I come across quotes from the works of church leaders about the prohibition in churches "to hum in the harp" ...
Gusli without a postcard. Gusli or kantele?
From the time of the disappearance of the game window in the harp-lira and practically to the present day. In all countries in which the harp is common. This stage of evolution is also found in the gusli, and in the Finnish kantele, and in the Latvian kokle, and in the Estonian kannel, etc. according to the list - has already been proven by tools that actually exist to this day. Regarding modern folk instruments, this form is more typical of the Baltic and Scandinavian gusli.
Structurally, this instrument appears as a separate type of harp, when the harp for playing is already unambiguously placed on the musician's knees. The playing window gradually disappears as unnecessary, the peg row lines up in a straight line, and the pegs of the upper strings get closer and closer to the tailpiece. Ducks (for fastening the string holder) existed for some time on such harps, but gradually gave way to wooden brackets with a crossbar of the string holder.
Why "kantele"? In principle (may pundits forgive such a generalization), the gusli and kantele are two names for the same instrument, which has survived in the Baltics, Scandinavia, Russia, and other European countries, its unique stages of evolution. And because of the variety of types of each name and the variety of names of each type, it is impossible to show a specific instrument and say: “this is the harp”, to show another: “this is the kantele”. But in the literature, contrary to sound research logic, such a step was nevertheless taken. It happened by accident, but I like the effect. The fact is that kantele, through the efforts of domestic translators, has become a name no less popular than the harp.
The native speakers themselves, in which the word “kantele” refers to all kinds of gusle-like instruments, emphasize the need to apply this term to their own national instruments. And just such a harp without a postcard make up the main percentage of these "kantele". And since there are not enough good, “promoted” terms, why not use the one that you don’t even need to look for. Seems to have explained. I am totally in favor of attaching the term "kantele" to non-opener instruments. Those. if a harp with a playing window can be safely called a “harp-lira”, and everyone will understand, then a harp without a postcard can just as well be called a “harp-kantele” or simply “kantele”.
Pterygoid harp - a harp with an opening. Kuokle (kuokles)
These harps have been common since the XIV-XV centuries. in Latgale (modern Latvia), Novgorod and Pskov regions (modern Russia), nothing can be said with certainty about other regions, although one would like to. This instrument is considered the most common of the gusli that have survived to this day in folk life.
As the name implies, this tool is distinguished by the presence of a postcard. The opener is a thin part of the body that protrudes beyond the peg row. The opener is an additional “platform” for sound reflection, an additional resonating soundboard (although it is incorrect to apply the term “deck” to the opener, but I explained it clearly). Thanks to the opener, these harps are noticeably louder and sharper than, for example, kantele harps. Postcards come in different shapes and sizes, and even if this platform is only 1-2 centimeters wide, even then it is already advisable to call it an opener.
Why "winged"?
The term "wing-shaped" proud connoisseurs of languages is deciphered as "in the form (form) of a wing." And everything that the researcher associates with the wing falls under this definition. This is reminiscent of the well-known anecdote about Vovochka, in which everything is associated with naked women. It is much more logical to assign the term pterygoid to the harp with an opener or not use it as a term at all, otherwise, as it is used, it more and more resembles a common gusel epithet, such as “voiced” or “yarovchaty”.
Why does the name "Quocles" pop up?
"Kuokles" is how the Latvians call their harp (Latgalian; in Latvian it will be - kokles). One of the main types of Latvian harp is the harp with an opening. Especially when the Russians start squabbling over the term “pterygoid”, which is often applied to almost everything that the strings are strung on, you can always explain that we are talking about kuokles or Latgalian gusli - and you will be understood.
Video: Gusli on video + sound
Thanks to these videos, you can get acquainted with the instrument, watch the real game on it, listen to its sound, feel the specifics of the technique:
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Gusli - what is it? It belongs to the stringed plucked species. Gusli is an ancient instrument, familiar to many according to legends. But in modern time you can hear its sounds mainly in orchestras focused on playing folk Slavic music. Although there are still some talented masters who can extract music from this ancient instrument.
When were the harps created?
Since childhood, everyone has heard about the harp. What are they? This is an unusual old musical instrument. In former times, its sounds were often heard in village huts. There are many legends and folk sayings about this instrument. For the first time, the harp is mentioned in 591. But there is no more exact date for the creation of this musical instrument in any source.
A bit of history
Gusli - what is it? It's musical vintage plucked instrument. But when he appeared is not known. There are many versions. One of them - the harp is formed from an old musical bow. It was quite primitive and famous in almost all countries. In support of this version, it can be added that the string of such a musical bow was called “gusla”. But, as mentioned above, this is only one of many hypotheses.
In the ninth century, the Slavs surprised the Byzantine kings by playing the harp. At that time, the instrument was made from dry boards of maple or spruce. The names of the gusli sometimes came from ornamental material. For example, the masters preferred But when the metal strings began to be pulled, the psaltery (there are photos of them in this article) began to be called "voiced".
The difficult and interesting fate of a musical instrument
The fate and history of the "growth" of the harp is closely connected with the epic and folk tradition. The secret of making a musical instrument has been passed down for centuries. Everyone loved songs and tunes on the harp: both commoners and kings. But after a while, the guslars (or guslists) began to be persecuted. And not the last role was played by unflattering songs about the then existing power.
Over time, the body and design of the harp changed, the technology for processing the material and applying varnish underwent changes. The decoration has also changed. And as a result, the harp turned from a rough folk instrument into a real work of art with a unique and rich sound.
Description of the gusli
Archaeologists still find ancient Russian gusli, which date back to the 11th-13th centuries. Tools have been found in Poland and Russia. All harps have common parts: strings, peg row, body, resonator and string holder. But the shape and location may be different.
Types of gusli
In addition to three types of plucked instruments, modern keyboards appeared, on which the mechanics are installed. When pressed, the strings open, and you can quickly select the desired chord. Playing the harp has become much easier. And all ancient instruments are divided into several types:
Gusli in modern times
Gusli - what is it? This is an ancient legendary musical instrument. In modern times, it is found in almost every orchestra. The voice of the harp gives the overall sound a unique flavor and zest. Interest in this musical instrument in Lately increased significantly. Modern guslars have appeared, striving to revive ancient traditions and chants.
How did they play the harp?
The harp sounded loud, but very soft. This was provided by the gut strings. The musicians played the harp while sitting on something hard. The tool was placed on the knees at a slight inclination. The top rested on the chest of the musician. Often the harpists played standing up. Some masters even managed to dance while extracting sounds from the instrument.
Playing the harp is a real skill. Modern gusli imitating old ones have from five to nine in number. The latter are located separately. The musicians play while sitting, pressing the harp to the stomach. The narrow side of the tool is turned to the right, and the wide side is to the left. In the fingers of the right hand are a sliver, plectrum, feather or bone. They also extract sound from the strings. And they are all affected at the same time. And the fingers on the left hand muffle too loud sound.
Workshops and factories
Gusli is a musical instrument for the manufacture of which there are practically no large factories. There are only small workshops that are created in the villages by true lovers of antiquity. Therefore, each copy of the harp in the old style becomes an almost unique and inimitable creative example.
Gusli- This is an old Russian instrument, which is rightfully considered a folk instrument. If we turn to the Old Slavonic language, then the name comes from the word "buzz", which is quite logical.The uniqueness of the harp is relative, since there are similar systems, for example, the zither, which was popular in the 17th-18th centuries in Germany and Austria. It should be noted that the zither, in turn, falls into the genus of instruments descended from the ancient Greek cithara. We can assume that and have approximately the same vector historical development. The most widespread varieties of the pterygoid type. Academic harp is often performed in a 15-string version, now they can be found in some ensembles.
We list the instruments that are classified as varieties of gusli:
- lira (Greece);
- harp (Italy);
- zhetygen (Kazakhstan);
- canon (Armenia);
- santur (Iran);
- kantle (Finland);
- kokle (Latvia);
- kankles (Lithuania), etc.
That is, many peoples have similar tools. Performers are called harpists. Some famous artists say that there is no better folk instrument for accompaniment when performing vocal parts. In the Russian clergy at the beginning of the 20th century, clavier-shaped harp could be found: a rectangular resonant box, clogged with a lid, it lay on the table, the system was piano, so the game was easier.
Structure and manufacture
The gusli is a rather simple musical instrument, which consists of a body and strings attached to it, which are stretched by means of a peg system. The material is wood. Most often these are conifers: spruce, pine, cedar, etc. It is believed that only in this case will there be a characteristic, unique sound. A resonating box is assembled, in parts, glue or small cloves are used. It is necessary to think over how and where the hole will be located, without it volume sound extraction is impossible. Auxiliary holes are also made. The role of the deck here is played by the voice board, which is installed on the front.
Game principle and structure
As a rule, you can find tutorials for playing the voiced harp. They can be played standing or sitting. In the second case, the instrument is installed with an edge (sideways) on the knees and, for convenience, leans slightly towards the performer. The easiest way to find songs and notes for 9 or 12 string harps. The academic school also includes orchestras of folk instruments, therefore it has its own school of performance and many famous gusli artists (some modern groups mention this instrument in their work, for example, Guf Gusli). The original harp is produced and used only in the CIS countries, other similar instruments are used in the rest of the world. I.e it is safe to call Russian gusli a phenomenon(foreigners often call them trapezoidal because of the characteristic ethnic shape).
Varieties and types of gusli
Pterygoid
Quite an interesting variety, because the case is made not from spruce, but from maple. Many experts believe that this is where the name comes from. There is another - sycamore (sycamore - maple). But all the same, the deck is made from a spruce array (ideally) or from planks (worse). They are also called voiced, they have diatonic sound series. Related instruments: kantele and kokles. By appearance they are quite easy to distinguish, since the strings on them are fan-shaped and taper towards the “heel”. The body is often beveled, some strings are tuned as bourdon, that is, they can sound continuously when played without spoiling the songs. If the harp touches all the strings at once, then this is called "rattling". There are many techniques, the most common of which are "plucking" and "silencing".
Helmet-shaped
Such harps are not so easy to meet - they are quite rare. Previously, it was believed that the origin of this species is Old Russian, but later historians chose a different version - the Volga region. A musician who played such an instrument in the Middle Ages was called a gudets. The name was given for a reason, and in fact the shape of the helmet takes place, one can count from 11 to 27 strings. The melody is “plucked out” with the right hand, and the chords are clamped with the left. It is placed in the same way as other varieties, on your knees. The tool exists and will be used to this day. There are original playing techniques - when two hands twitch notes with an octave difference, this is how the Mari play.
Lyre-shaped
They were widespread in Russia, starting from the 11th century, outwardly similar to a lyre. They have an opening (window) in the upper part. The left hand is placed there, and the right hand is struck on the strings in the holder area. The instrument rested against the thigh, it's good that you could play on the go. Number of strings: 5. Now lyre-shaped harp can only be found in museums and among collectors, they are used extremely rarely, have historical and cultural value. They are very expensive.
Stationary
This type of harp is very different from portable ones, as they are fixed in a certain place to facilitate the game. At the same time, the instruments are more serious and thoughtful, they are
- clavier-shaped;
- table-like;
- rectangular.
look
Video
Listen to the harp Saturday bard concert Rock on the harp The Lonely Shepherd - James Last Metallica Tsoi - performed by Sergei Plotnikov Egor Strelnikov Olga GlazovaGusli is one of the most famous Russian folk instruments, whose history dates back thousands of years. From time immemorial, Russian gusliers have been famous for their enchanting playing, which wins the hearts and souls of all who hear it.
Gusli is a stringed plucked instrument. The name, apparently, comes from the word "gusla", which was called the sounding bowstring. There are 2 main types of gusli: helmet-shaped and wing-shaped, differing from each other in shape, number of strings and the principle of play. The helmet-shaped harp has 10 to 30 strings and is played with plucks. Pterygoid harps have from 5 to 14 strings, along which they rattle with the whole brush. A little later, the Russian clergy will have clavier-shaped psaltery, which are sometimes used today.
Although different types of gusli differ from each other, their design is almost the same. They consist of a resonator-box, which is placed on the floor or on your knees. On the top deck there are round slots, and two bars are attached to it, on which the strings are stretched.
The first reliable mention in Byzantine manuscripts of the harp dates back to the 5th century. Also, guslars are described in ancient epic and chronicles, for example, in the writings of Cyril of Turov. In many countries, there were musical instruments similar to the harp, such as the ancient Greek harp and cithara, the Iranian santur, the Armenian canon, etc.
Since ancient times, all Russian folk festivals have been accompanied by playing the harp. The tunes on this instrument were loved by both ordinary people and royal persons, although there were those who organized the persecution of harpists.
Today, the harp is a rare instrument, but not completely forgotten. Only a few small workshops are engaged in their manufacture in Russia, so it is almost impossible for a simple layman to purchase them. But you can hear the sounds of the harp in the orchestras of Russian folk instruments.
Funny and curious on our site
A report on music about the harp will briefly help you prepare for the lesson, and you will learn a lot of useful information about this ancient instrument. The report about the harp can be supplemented with interesting facts.
A short message about the harp
What is gusli?
Gusli is the oldest plucked stringed musical instrument. In Russia, they mean a kind of recumbent harp. They existed on the territory of Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, Russia, Latvia, Poland, Estonia, Finland and other European countries (where they had their original name). And in each country they had their own characteristics. Between themselves, they were similar to a fan of strings, a string holder, a peg row and a resonator under the strings along the entire length.
Gusli: a story for children
It is impossible to say exactly who invented the harp, and when it happened. In the history of the Finnish kantele, Slavic gusli, Latvian kokle, Estonian kannel, Lithuanian kankles, there are only guesses and assumptions. There are opinions that this stringed instrument came to us from China, where the guqin stringed instrument was known long before the birth of Christ. According to another version, lyre-like instruments were brought to their colonies by the Romans.
The Finns claim that the first kantele gusli were made by Weimemeinen, in Russia and Belarus, that the harp is a modernized "musical bow". Therefore, the confusion with assumptions is incredible.
In the Old Russian manuscript “The Tale of a Belarusian Man and Monasticism”, the author depicted in the letter “D” the figure of a king who played the harp. The shape of the body resembles a helmet. Subsequently, the shape of the resonator flat box changed: a trapezoidal shape appeared. With a decrease in the number of strings, wing-shaped harps also developed.
Back in the 9th century, they were made from dugout dry boards of maple or spruce. With the advent of metallic strings, the harp rang. Craftsmen have passed down the secret of tool making to their apprentices for centuries. Goose tunes and songs were loved to listen not only to ordinary residents, peasants, but also kings. However, the harp often spoke unflatteringly about the rulers in their songs. Therefore, there were persecutions of the harpists. Over time, this plucked instrument has evolved from an archaic instrument into a stage professional instrument with a unique sound.
To date, every orchestra of folk instruments has plucked harp in its composition: keyboards and table-shaped ones. Their sound gives the orchestra the flavor of ancient chimes.
Gusli: types of instruments
There are such types of gusli:
- voiced. These are the simplest and most ancient harps. A trapezoidal or triangular box was placed on the knees when playing. The number of strings varied from 7 to 13. When the sonorous harp became part of symphony orchestra, then the flocks immediately see their shortcomings: a small range. Then it was decided to build a harp of different sizes.
- Plucked. Equipped with 60 strings that cover 5 full octaves. The musician plays the harp with both hands, simultaneously leading the melody on thin and bass strings. They can reproduce complex polyphonic works.
- Keyboards. This is the youngest type of harp that appeared in the twentieth century. They are created in 4 sizes: piccolo, prima, alto, bass. They produce a full, rich, pleasant sound.
How do harps sound?
This original instrument can produce a melodious and gentle voice, can convey the murmur of a stream and bird singing, portray a bell chime. The sound source is flexible stretched strings. Each of them is tuned to the desired sound pitch. It is removed with a mediator or fingertips. Different harps use their own sound extraction techniques: arpeggio, rattling, pizzicato, glissando, tremolo.
Gusli Interesting Facts
- The performer on the harp is called the harpist.
- Tsar Ivan the Terrible had an ensemble of guslists at court, which amused him.
- Patriarch of All Russia Nikon ordered in 1654 to burn all the psaltery in the state.
- The first song that was recorded with notes for the gusli was Ukrainian folk song"Oh pid cherry." It was recorded in St. Petersburg by the French composer F. Boilde in 1803.
- In May 1945, the Guslist Ensemble performed on the steps of the defeated Reichstag in Berlin with a concert in honor of the victory.