Zatula
Encyclopedia
The zatula also known as the rubal, rubel, kuchelka, kachanka, kachalka, and the rebra, is a Ukrainian
folk
musical instrument
. It is primarily a household item used for washing and drying clothes, but it is occasionally used as a percussion instrument
.
The zatula consists of a piece of wood with grooves carved into it. A wooden rod is run over these grooves to soften clothes after washing. The zatula is played in a humorous way by placing the rounded rod under the chin and using the zatula as a bow, playing over the rod, or vice versa. The rasping sound thus produced is similar to that of the derkach
.
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Music of Ukraine
Ukraine is a multi-ethnic Eastern European state situated north of the Black Sea, previously part of the Soviet Union. Many of its ethnic groups living within Ukraine have their own unique musical traditions and some have developed specific musical traditions in association with the land in which...
folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
musical instrument
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
. It is primarily a household item used for washing and drying clothes, but it is occasionally used as a percussion instrument
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
.
The zatula consists of a piece of wood with grooves carved into it. A wooden rod is run over these grooves to soften clothes after washing. The zatula is played in a humorous way by placing the rounded rod under the chin and using the zatula as a bow, playing over the rod, or vice versa. The rasping sound thus produced is similar to that of the derkach
Derkach
The derkach is a Ukrainian version of the rattle.The derkach is occasionally used in Ukrainian folk instrument orchestras, but is usually found as a child's toy. The derkach was made by taking a piece of rounded hard wood and cutting teeth into it. Another piece of wood is joined to this with a...
.
Sources
- Humeniuk, A. Ukrainski narodni muzychni instrumenty, Kiev: Naukova dumka, 1967
- Mizynec, V. Ukrainian Folk Instruments, Melbourne: Bayda books, 1984
- Cherkasky, L. Ukrainski narodni muzychni instrumenty, Tekhnika, Kiev, Ukraine, 2003 - 262 pages. ISBN 966-575-111-5
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