Tamburica

The Tamburitza [IPA|ˈtamburitsa] (Croatian: Tamburica, meaning "Little Tambura"), is a string instrument popular in the traditional folk music of Croatia (especially Slavonia), northern Serbia (Vojvodina) and Hungary. It is also known in parts of southernmost Slovenia.

It similar to the mandolin, in that its strings are plucked and often paired.

trings and tuning

The number of strings on tamburica varies, and it can have single or double strings. Double strings are tuned unisonically.

The basic forms of tamburitza are "samica" (three double strings), "bisernica" (two double strings and two single strings; four tones), "prim" (one double string and three single strings; four tones), "bas-prim" or "brač" (two double strings and two single strings; four tones), "čelović" (two double strings and two single strings; four tones), "čelo" (four strings), "bas" or "berda" (four strings), and the "bugarija" or "kontra" (one double string and three single strings; four tones ). The names and method of playing can depend on the tuning of the strings.

Composers and ensembles

Tamburitza orchestra can have various formats, from a tercet to a large orchestra. A basic tercet consists of a "prim", a "kontra" and a "čelo". Larger orchestras also have "bas-prims" and "bass-prim-terc" tamburas.

The first major composer for the tamburitza was Pajo Kolarić, who formed the first amateur tamburitza orchestra in Osijek in 1847.Fact|date=August 2008. Kolarić's student, Mijo Majer, formed the first tamburitzan choir led by a conductor, the "Hrvatska Lira" in 1882.

There is a view that the first tambura orchestra was formed in Hungary in the 19th century.Volly István: Bajai tamburások - A bajai tamburazenekar története (1964.)] The instruments' names came from the Hungarian names of the musical instruments of the symphony orchestra - originally from the Hungarian Gipsy bands ("bőgős" - begeš, "prím", "kontra"). [Magyar Néprajzi Lexikon, Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest 1977-1982] These orchestras soon spread to what is now Bosnia, Austria, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Croatian composers for the tamburitza include Siniša Leopold and Julije Njikoš. The instrument has long been a symbol of the Croatian identity, and is associated with nationalism. The first Croat to study his people's folk music was Franjo Ksaver Kuhač. He was followed by Vinko Žganec, an associate of Béla Bartók's, who collected more than 19,000 Croatian folk songs.

Serbia and Montenegro, most notably Vojvodina, also have a long-standing tradition of tamburitza. The famous Grand tamburitza orchestra of Radio Novi Sad was founded in 1951 under the leadership of Sava Vukosavljev, who composed and arranged many pieces for tamburica orchestra, and published a comprehensive book “Vojvođanska tambura” (Tambura of Vojvodina). There are also orchestras of Radio Belgrade and Radio Podgorica, Radio Kikinda etc. Janika Balázs, who was also the member of the Radio Novi Sad orchestra, also had his famous 8-men band and was the most popular performer of the 20th century and his name became a synonym for tamburitza music.

Famous Tamburitza orchestra from Serbia include: Orchestras of Maksa Popov, Orchestra of Aleksandar Aranicki and others.

In United States there is long tradition of tamburitza. Famous orchestras include Popovich Brothers, and The Marty Kapugi Orchestra of Mel Dokich, Martin Kapugi, Horace "Uros" Mamala, and others.

Types of Tamburitza

Bisernica

Bisernica (cro. "biser" meaning "pearl", also called "Prima") is the smallest tamburitza. It has 5 strings; E, A, D and 2 G strings. The sound reminds of that of mandolin or balalaika. It is mostly used as a lead instrument or harmonising instrument. It is very loud and it is about 50 cm long.

Brač

Brač (pronounced "Brach", also called "Basprima") is a slightly bigger instrument than the bisernica but is played in a similar fashion. Because of its bigger size, it sounds lower then the bisernica.

Čelo

Čelo (pronounced "Chelo") is similar in size to bugarija, and used for dynamics.

Bugarija

Bugarija (pronounced "Bugariah", also called "Kontra") is similar to a guitar, but has only 3 or 4 strings. It is mostly used for rhythmic contrast of the bajs. A D bugarija has five strings, the bottom pair are D, the middle string is A and the top two are tuned F# and F# booster.

Bas

Bas (also called "berda" or "bajs") is the largest tamburitza. It can only be played standing used for playing bass lines.

Film

*"Ziveli! Medicine for the Heart" (1987), filmed and directed by Les Blank. Produced by Flower Films in association with the Center for Visual Anthropology, University of Southern California. Based on ethnography by Andre Simic. El Cerrito, California: Flower Films & Video. ISBN 0-933621-38-8.

External links

* [http://www.tambura.com.hr Tambura.com.hr]
* [http://www.tamburaland.com Tamburaland.com]
* [http://tamburica.net/ Tamburica.net]
* [http://www.tamburitza.org/ Tamburitza Association of America]
* [http://www.tresnjevka.net/engtamb.htm About tamburitza - short history]
*http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/folk.html
*http://www.slavonicweb.org/events/tamfest_hist.html
*http://larkinthemorning.com/article.asp?AI=31&bhcd2=1168794929

Gallery

References