How the kuvytsi makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the kuvytsi belongs to the flutes (edge-blown): an air jet is split on a sharp edge, setting the air column vibrating – flutes, recorders, whistles and panpipes.
More broadly it is one of the aerophones (wind instruments), where sound comes from vibrating air.
Press play above and watch the spectrum: the evenly spaced peaks are harmonics, and their relative strength is what gives the instrument its character.
From Wikipedia
The kuvytsi (Ukrainian: Кувиці), kugikly, kuvikly (Russian: Кугиклы, Кувиклы) are the Ukrainian and Russian variant of pan pipes. Pan pipes have been found in archeological excavations in Ukraine that date back some 5,000 years. The instrument consists of several pipes each of which, when blown endwise, produces one sound. Various versions of the kuvytsi exist in Ukraine, such as the one-sided kuvytsi, which consist of a system of pipes from great to small in one lode or two-sided kuvytsi, which have their greatest pipe in the center.
These instruments were used by ensembles in Chernihiv Province and also widely in Western Ukraine. These instruments allow chromatic notes to be readily obtained, a semitone lower than the primary sound of the pipe. This is done by bending the angle of the pipes with relation to the player's lips. The air stream is thus broken on the far end of the pipe, rather than the end closest the lips.
Other flutes
More instruments from Ukraine
Frequently asked questions
What does a kuvytsi sound like?
As one of the flutes, its sound comes from the way an air jet is split on a sharp edge, setting the air column vibrating.
What type of instrument is the kuvytsi?
It is classified as flutes (edge-blown) (Hornbostel–Sachs 421.112.11).
Where does the kuvytsi come from?
The kuvytsi originates from Ukraine and Russian Empire.
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q4244288 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Kuvytsi – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by С фотографии А. Мордвинова рисов. на дер. П.Ф. Борель, грав. Л.А. Серяков – Public domain