Cobza
Encyclopedia
The cobza is a Romania
n and Moldova
n folk instrument of the lute family (also known as koboz in Hungary
). It is distinct from the Ukrainian kobza
, an instrument of a different organology
and origin.
The Romanian cobza is metal-strung (although nylon-strung models exist, mostly in Hungary), and has a very short neck without fret
s, with a bent-back pegbox
. The back is ribbed. It is usually double or triple strung, and often has a characteristic flat endclasp.
The cobza is played with a plectrum
in elaborate and florid melodic passagework, and has a pick-guard similar to that of an oud
. Its strings are widely spaced at the bridge to facilitate this technique. It has a soft tone, most often tuned to D-A-D-G (although tuning depends per style, region and player).
The Romanian cobza is a local adaptation of the Persian barbat
or Turkish oud
, probably brought to the area by itinerant gypsy musicians in the 15th century (a gypsy musician is called lăutar, literally lute-player). A cobza player specifically is called a cobzar.
The Romanina-Hungarian cobza was also played by Ukrainian musicians in various music ensembles in the Bukovyna region in the mid war periods, being replaced totally by the mandolin
and 4 stringed domra
when this area became incorporated into the Ukrainian SSR.
Etymology
The name of the instrument comes from turkic "kopuz".
Notable players include:
Romania
:
Grigore Kiazim
Ion Zlotea
Ion Strambeanu
Tudor Gheorghe
Marin Cotoanta
Hungary
:
Fabri Geza
Matyas Bolya
Zoltan Katai
Tamas Kobzos Kiss
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n and Moldova
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
n folk instrument of the lute family (also known as koboz in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
). It is distinct from the Ukrainian kobza
Kobza
The kobza is a Ukrainian folk music instrument of the lute family , a relative of the Central European mandora...
, an instrument of a different organology
Organology
Organology is the science of musical instruments and their classification. It embraces study of instruments' history, instruments used in different cultures, technical aspects of how instruments produce sound, and musical instrument classification...
and origin.
The Romanian cobza is metal-strung (although nylon-strung models exist, mostly in Hungary), and has a very short neck without fret
Fret
A fret is a raised portion on the neck of a stringed instrument, that extends generally across the full width of the neck. On most modern western instruments, frets are metal strips inserted into the fingerboard...
s, with a bent-back pegbox
Pegbox
A pegbox is the part of certain stringed musical instruments that houses the tuning pegs....
. The back is ribbed. It is usually double or triple strung, and often has a characteristic flat endclasp.
The cobza is played with a plectrum
Plectrum
A plectrum is a small flat tool used to pluck or strum a stringed instrument. For hand-held instruments such as guitars and mandolins, the plectrum is often called a pick, and is a separate tool held in the player's hand...
in elaborate and florid melodic passagework, and has a pick-guard similar to that of an oud
Oud
The oud is a pear-shaped stringed instrument commonly used in North African and Middle Eastern music. The modern oud and the European lute both descend from a common ancestor via diverging paths...
. Its strings are widely spaced at the bridge to facilitate this technique. It has a soft tone, most often tuned to D-A-D-G (although tuning depends per style, region and player).
The Romanian cobza is a local adaptation of the Persian barbat
Barbat (lute)
The barbat or barbud is a lute of ancient Persian origin. The Arabic Oud is derived from an ancient Persian barbat. Today's barbat, however, is essentially the same thing as today's oud: the instrument is often called the barbat when played in a Persian tradition, while called the oud when played...
or Turkish oud
Oud
The oud is a pear-shaped stringed instrument commonly used in North African and Middle Eastern music. The modern oud and the European lute both descend from a common ancestor via diverging paths...
, probably brought to the area by itinerant gypsy musicians in the 15th century (a gypsy musician is called lăutar, literally lute-player). A cobza player specifically is called a cobzar.
The Romanina-Hungarian cobza was also played by Ukrainian musicians in various music ensembles in the Bukovyna region in the mid war periods, being replaced totally by the mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
and 4 stringed domra
Domra
The domra is a long-necked Russian string instrument of the lute family with a round body and three or four metal strings.-History:In 1896, a student of Vasily Vasilievich Andreyev found a broken instrument in a stable in rural Russia...
when this area became incorporated into the Ukrainian SSR.
Etymology
The name of the instrument comes from turkic "kopuz".
Notable players include:
Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
:
Grigore Kiazim
Ion Zlotea
Ion Strambeanu
Tudor Gheorghe
Marin Cotoanta
Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
:
Fabri Geza
Matyas Bolya
Zoltan Katai
Tamas Kobzos Kiss