Ethnic instruments from different countries

Music is the universal language of humanity, and ethnic musical instruments are an essential part of the cultural heritage of the peoples of the world. Each instrument reflects the natural environment, history and worldview of its people. In this article, we will travel across continents to discover the most striking ethnic instruments and their sounds.

Africa: djembe and kora

The djembe is a cup-shaped leather drum originating in West Africa. It is played to accompany rituals, dances and historical narratives. The kora is a 21-stringed instrument resembling a harp. It is used by griot singers who recount the genealogy and events of their villages.

Kugikly are not only known in Africa. This instrument is better known as the pan flute; you can read about the origin of the name here.

Each nation gave it its own name: soinar in Georgia, skuchudai in Lithuania, nay or muscal in Moldova or Romania, samponio among the Indians.

For centuries, people have divided the masculine and feminine principles. Women expressed their feminine nature in their behaviour, clothing, activities, songs, etc. Men developed and maintained masculine qualities. Very different men and women together form a single, harmonious whole. If everything gets mixed up, if a woman behaves like a man, does men's work, and a man takes on women's work, problems begin on a spiritual and physical level. The same is true in music.

Asia: shamisen, guqin and morin khuur

The shamisen is a Japanese three-stringed plucked instrument covered with leather, used in kabuki theatre and traditional music. The guqin is an ancient Chinese monochord associated with philosophy and meditation. Morin khuur is a Mongolian violin with a horse's head, known for its singing sound reminiscent of animal voices and the wind of the steppes.

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India: sitar and tabla

The sitar is a plucked instrument with a pumpkin resonator and many sympathetic strings that create a rich, multi-layered sound. The tabla is a pair of drums used for rhythmic accompaniment, especially in classical Indian and film music.

Europe: bagpipes, balalaika and cymbals

The bagpipes are a wind instrument with a leather reservoir, widely used in Scotland, Ireland, Bulgaria and the Caucasus. The balalaika is a Russian plucked instrument with a triangular body, a vivid representative of folk tradition. The cimbalom is a hammered string instrument related to the sanguine, found in Hungary, Slovakia and Belarus.

America: Native American flute and maracas

The Native American flute is a wind instrument of the indigenous peoples of North and South America, often used in ceremonies and meditation. Maracas (or maracas) are rattles made from gourds with seeds, used in Latin American rhythms.

Oceania: didgeridoo

The didgeridoo is a long wooden pipe used by the Aboriginal people of Australia, which produces a continuous vibrating sound using a circular breathing technique. It is one of the oldest wind instruments on the planet.

Conclusion: Ethnic musical instruments are not only sounds, but also the living embodiment of the history, spirituality and identity of peoples. Studying them helps to understand culture on a deeper level and opens up new horizons of musical perception.