DULCIMER IN MUSIC LIFE OF NORTHERN AND NORTHWESTERN CROATIA AT THE END OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

Cimbal je žičani glazbeni instrument koji je danas sve prisutniji na sceni neotradicijske popularne glazbe sjeverne i sjeverozapadne Hrvatske. Upravo me susret sa sve većim brojem mlađih svirača cimbala ponukao da u dostupnoj literaturi potražim podatke o povijesti cimbala u Hrvatskoj i usporedim ih s današnjim saznanjima o tom instrumentu.In historical sources, the history of dulcimer (Hornbostel - Sachs 314.122) in Croatia can be traced back to Ivan Belostenec\u27s dictionary Gazophylacium, seu latino – illyricorum onomatum aerarium / Gazophylacium illyrico – latinum (Zagreb 1740), in which the author named several kaikavian terms depicting parts of the instrument and the way it was played. However, the first more detailed description of the instrument, the playing technique, repertoire and its role in the music life was given by Franjo Ksaver Kuhač in his study from 1877. During the twentieth century, the dulcimer was present in the music life of the Croatian regions of Međimurje, Podravina and Hrvatsko zagorje. The most common way of playing combines violins, dulcimer and kontra (baritone tambouritza called bugarija, guitar or violin that play the second part of the beat, that is, the rhythmic accompaniment). Such bands have played at different social events, and especially at weddings. During the 1990s, the interest for dulcimer has increased, so that the instrument has become even more present within the local traditional repertoire, but also as a part of the world-music movement. Sometimes the dulcimer is played solo; however, it is more often played in bands. The dulcimer is an essential part of bands such as Kavaliri from Bednja, Cimbuli band from Ivanec and Visočki cajti from Visoko near Novi Marof. In these bands, the dulcimer serves for playing the harmonic accompaniment, and sometimes also the melody. The dulcimers of today are either restaured older models or completely new instruments made after the older models. The layman builders are the ones who make them. One of them is Đuro Flamaceta (born in 1937) from Budrovci near Đurđevci