The Eighth Tribe, 1974 (1. évfolyam, 1-7. szám)

1974-11-01 / 6. szám

Page Ten

THE EIGHTH TRIBE

November, 1974

THE CZIMBALOM

JANOSSY

TESTVÉREK

In the above picture William Jánossy is seated in proper playing position behind the czimbalom which he built

Every nation has developed its characteristic form of music and dance. So it was with Hungary. The national dance and the music to which it is danced are both known as the csárdás. It is usually written in 2/4 tempo with two identical rhythms— slow (lassú) and fast (friss).

The Hungarians besides creating their own music and dance have developed instruments for the proper rendition of their music. Two of these instruments are the czimbalom and the tárogató—an instrument resembling a clarinet, only slightly larger. Of these two the czimbalom is the most popular. No Gypsy orchestra is complete without its czimbalom player; because it is this instrument that gives the local color to the music. As it is an instrument which is effective in almost any type of orchestra, it became popular in most of the countries of Europe. I believe the only

reason it is not so widely known here in America is because of the lack of properly trained players.

The czimbalom is a tapered table-like structure with the strings strung across the bridges located on the sound board. It has 34 treble and 17 bass tones, or a range of three tones more than four octaves. E, three octaves above middle C is the highest tone and D, on some instruments C, two octaves below middle C being the lowest tone. In the treble the strings are separated near the center by means of bridges. Therefore, one set of four strings, which are tuned alike, produce two tones. The three sets of high treble each produce three tones. In the bass each set of three wound strings produce one tone. There are 76 treble and 48 bass strings making a total of 124 strings producing 51 tones in all. The highest tone is located the farthest away from the performer, at the front of the instrument where the taper is at its narrowest point.

The czimbalom is not tuned in chromatic succession as is the piano. It is equipped with a pedal by means of which the player can regulate the volume with his foot. The legs upon which the instrument rests are detachable, thereby making it more convenient to transport. The accompaniment which the czimbalom affords is in arpeggio style; as the performer has but two hammers, the ends of which are padded with cotton, with which to produce the tones. It is the nucleus of the Hungarian orchestra.

Statue of U. S. General Bandholtz in Budapest