By James Kim And Dennis KRItchko

Part one Russian Instruments  Balalaika ("Belly Scratcher")  Gusli (Russian Folk Psaltery)  Ukranian Lira (Hurdy-gurdy)  Kolyosnaya Lira  Gudok Part Two Korean Instruments  Buk  Haegeum  Daegeum  Geomungo  gayageum

Russian Instruments

About it! The Balalaika (“Belly Scratcher”) is the most well known Russian instrument. It is part of the string family. The Balalaika family is similar to the violin. It has a triangular body. Like the violin family, it can be sold in many different sizes. For children, it can be ¼ of its size, but it can be sold in string bass size! The pitch of the balalaika varies from piccolo pitch, to contrabass, contrabass sounds similar to the electric bass. Link to music of Balalaika music

About It! The Gusli is one of the oldest know Russian instruments. The first mentioning of the Gusli dates back to the 6 th century A.D. The origin of this instrument is unknown, but all ancient countries have similar ones like the Gusli. Gusli is multi-string plucked instrument with a pleasant sound. Folk Gusli have from eleven to thirty-six gut or metal strings. Gusli is held by the musician on his knees, so that the strings are horizontal, the resonator body under them. The musician uses his left hand to mute unnecessary strings and thus form chords, while strumming all the strings with his right hand. The instrument was spread in southern and western regions of Kievan Rus'. (music)

(music) About the Spoons Known as lozhki (Ло́жки), Russian musical spoons most often are the beautifully carved and decorated wooden spoons famous in that part of the world. Where American spoon players usually use two silver spoons in one hand, Russian players typically play three or more and use both hands. They can also put extra spoons in pockets or on their clothes and use them as extra percussion surfaces.

Gudok is an ancient Russian folk music instrument. In spite of its name (meaning “hooter” in Russian) it is a string instrument played with a bow. Gudok reminds of a number of string instruments of the world. All these instruments are placed vertically on a knee and play with the bow on three (most often) strings. The tune is played only on the highest string. There are only four “playing” fingers, though the little finger is often not used. Taking into account the open string there are only five (or four) sounds, just like in early Gusli. The remaining two strings "hooted" similar to the well- known Scottish bagpipes.

Svirel is an old folk Russian wind instrument of the end-blown flute type. In the old times this instrument was made either of hollow reed or cylindrical wood branches. A legend says that Lel’, son of the Slavic goddess of love Lada was a svirel player. In spring he would make his svirel of birch branches. Svirel is a simple wooden (sometimes metal) pipe. On the upper end it has a beak-like whistle device and in the middle of the face side it has several (usually six) finger-holes cut out. Wooden pipe is made of buckthorn, hazel, maple, ash tree, or bird cherry tree.

Korean Instruments

 Buk is a term for Korean drum  It is in the percussion family  Covered with cowhide on both sides  Ten widely used varieties in Korea  Buk used in farmer’s band music has wooden pieces placed between the body and the strings to tighten the skin, producing a range of pitches  Played with sticks called bukchae #at=2

 String instrument with two strings  Played with a bow  Sound box is hollow and made of bamboo  Neck is rod-like and also made of bamboo  Although it has two strings, it can produce many sounds from cheery to sad  Featured in solemn rituals to cheerful folk music

 Part of the woodwind family  Large bamboo flute  Blown from the side  Used in both solo and ensemble pieces  Loved in days of yore - folk song praising daegeum was written  Western orchestras – oboe plays tuning pitch  Korean ensemble – daegeum plays tuning pitch  Multiple types of daegeum  Different types of daegeum are named after their tone and lengths. eo.com/ #at= 2

 Part of the string family  Six silk strings  Three strings pass over series of 16 convex frets  Remaining three strings rest on three movable bridges  Plucked by a bamboo stick called suldae

 Part of the string family  Twelve silk strings  Played by plucking or strumming the strings with the right hand while the left hand presses the strings below the movable bridges  Many varieties include the sanjo gayageum played in folk music  Many modern-day variations com/ #at=1

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