Cobza
{{Distinguish|Kobza}}
{{Short description|Stringed instrument}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox Instrument
| name = Cobza
| names = Koboz
| image = Kobza_001.jpg
| image_size = 150
| background = string
| classification = *Necked bowl lutes
| hornbostel_sachs = 321.321-6
| hornbostel_sachs_desc = Composite chordophone sounded with a plectrum
| related = {{collapsible list|
- Barbat (lute)
- Baglamadaki
- Bağlama
- Biwa
- Bouzouki
- Dombra
- Domra
- Dutar
- Lavta
- Lute
- Mandocello
- Mandola
- Mandolin
- Oud
- Pipa
- Qanbus
}}
}}
The cobza is a multi-stringed instrument of the lute family of folk origin popular in the Romanian, Moldovan and contemporary Hungarian folk music. It is considered the oldest accompaniment instrument in the region comprising Romania and Moldova. Its usage in Hungary started following the Táncház movement of the late 20th century.
It is distinct from the Ukrainian Kobza, an instrument of different construction and origin.Gregory F. Barz, Timothy J. Cooley (eds.) (1997), Shadows in the Field: New Perspectives for Fieldwork in Ethnomusicology, Oxford University Press, New York, p. 187
Overview
The Romanian Cobza is metal-strung (although modern nylon-strung models exist, mostly in Hungary), and has a very short neck without frets (although a newer fretted hybrid cobza can be found in the Republic of Moldova),{{cite web|url=http://www.patrimoniuimaterial.md/ro/pagini/registrul-chestionare-privind-inventarierea-%C8%99i-cercetarea-elementelor-patrimoniului-cultural/cobza|title=Cobza - Patrimoniul cultural imaterial al Republicii Moldova|website=www.patrimoniuimaterial.md}} with a bent-back pegbox. In the past, gut strings were used, sometimes mixed with metal ones. The back is ribbed. It is usually double or triple strung, and often has a characteristic flat end clasp.
The Cobza is played with a plectrum (traditionally, a goose feather) 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 on style, region and player).{{cite web|url=http://www.koboz.hu|title=Moldvai csángó népzene és régi zene -|website=www.koboz.hu}}
The origins of the Romanian Cobza are thought to be a local adaptation of the Persian barbat or Turkish oud, probably brought to the area by itinerant Romani musicians in the 15th century{{cite web|url=http://www.campin.me.uk/Music/Cobza/ |title=The Romanian Cobza |publisher=Campin.me.uk |date=2016-01-08 |accessdate=2018-04-20}} (a Rom/Romani musician is called lăutar, literally lute-player). A Cobza player specifically is called a "cobzar".Viorel Cosma (1960), Figuri de Lautari, Musical Printing House, Bucharest, p. 230 Notable Cobza players were Ion Păturică, Ion Zlotea, Marin Cotoanță, Grigore Kiazim (from Wallachia), Nicolae Păsnicuțu and Constantin Negel (from Moldavia).
It seems that Cobza was used in various music ensembles in the Bukovina region in the mid-war periods, being replaced totally by the mandolin and 4 stringed domra when the north of this area became incorporated into the Ukrainian SSR.Mizynec, V. - Folk Instruments of Ukraine. Bayda Books, Melbourne, Australia, 1987 - 48с.
The name of the instrument may come from the Turkic "kopuz".{{cite web|url=http://stringedinstrumentdatabase.aornis.com/|title=The Stringed Instrument Database: Index|website=stringedinstrumentdatabase.aornis.com}}
In Hungary, it is often called Koboz.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons cat|Cobza}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4Po6w4g7cw Cobza solo - Marin Cotoanță]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsdu56fDdXQ Countryside built Cobza recording]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvkZAuh6IQY&t=659s "Datina" folk ensemble from Botoșani]
- [http://www.socsci.uci.edu/~rgarfias/sound-recordings/romania-1977.html Robert Garfias - field recordings made in Romania during 1977]
- [http://carmentis.kmkg-mrah.be/eMuseumPlus?service=ExternalInterface&module=collection&lang=nl&objectId=117867 A Romanian Cobza in Museum Collections]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20170112185443/http://www.mimo-international.com/MIMO/doc/IFD/URN_REPOX_KMKG_BE_MIM_RMAH_117917_NL/cobzaAnother Romanian Cobza in Museum Collections]
- [http://www.imgrum.net/media/1022581021549634035_2118950359 Romanian Cobza from Horniman Museum - on the left]
- http://www.koboziskola.hu/
{{Lute}}
Category:Romanian musical instruments