hammered dulcimer

Classification: 3 Chordophones / 31 Simple chordophones or zithers / 314 Board zithers / 314.1 True board zithers / 314.12 With resonator / 314.122 With resonator box (box zither) / 314.122-4 True board zithers with resonator box (box zither) sounded by hammers or beaters
Maker: Sowa Piotr
Date: ca 1920
Village / Town: Piątkowa
Region: Lesser Poland (Subcarpathia)
Country: Poland
Owner: Museum of Folk Musical Instruments in Szydłowiec
Inventory number: MS/285
Description: over the trapezoidal body 15 of 5-string courses (with additional two single strings) are stretched; melody strings and bass strings are streched by turns, with the former being supported by the left bridge (dividing them in 5th) and bass strings by the right bridge; bridges have the form of metal rods supported by wooden ones; the top plate has two resonance holes covered with decorative rosettes
Decoration: resonance holes covered with rosettes with floral motives
Measurements: 716-959 x 327-330 x 67-76 mm
Materials: wood, metal
Sound compass, tuning: variable, usually the lower tone G – d, scale from two, sometimes incomplete, to over four octaves
Performance practice: formerly an instrument of Jewish and Gypsy musicians, later folk musicians; it was played solo or in bands, particularly in the area of Rzeszów, in Subcarpathia, and in the Vilnius area; dulcimers from east Lesser Poland are usually bigger and louder than those from Vilnius
Catalog card by: Maria Gangi / Zbigniew J. Przerembski


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