Recorder / furulya

RECORDER, FLUTE (furulya)

Two kinds of shepherd’s flutes or recorders are used: the long-woo dwind-flute (hosszú furugla), made of elderberry, is nearly one meter long and has five holes at the end. The lower octave sound of the instrument is nearly always accompanied by the player’s murmuring and growl ing voice. It can be played only with a lifted head and stretched arms.
The small recorders or six hole pipes – which fit the player’s fingers perfectly – are from 30 – 60 cm in length. The smaller ones are called piccolo. The recorders are made of elderberry and maple wood. It is the favorite instrument of herdsmen.
The double recorder is used in Transdanubia, Transylvania, and by the Csángós. The side with 4 holes plays the melody, the other with 2-3 the accompanying tune.
It is an ancient Asian peculiarity, that – especially in Transylvania and Somogy – the musician produces a murmuring sound of the throat while playing. This guttural ostinato serves to color and strengthen the sound of the flute. The combination tunes produce three clearly audible parts.