Mazanki

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The Mazanki is a type of Czech folk musical instrument that belongs to a group of idiophones.

[edit] Construction

The Mazanki is similar in shape to the violin, with the difference that it is smaller and has 5 strings that are tuned in fourths. The body and the neck are made of one piece of wood, and the soundboard is slightly raised. The bridge is the most characteristic element of the instrument as one of its feet is longer than the other and going through the E-whole in the top it touches the bottom of the instrument and in this way replaces the sound post.

[edit] Technique for playing

The sound producing technique is also a little different than the modern violin technique. the performer, instead of using a regular bow, moves the strings with a tight rubber band tied to the ends of a wooden stick. To make the rubber band less slippery folk musicians will sometimes rub it with regular rosin or with a substance made of white flour mixed with honey and chopped walnuts.

First notes about mazanki date back to early Middle Ages era, i.e. the 14th century.

Mazanki used to be particularly popular in the region of Czech Republic called Ziemia Lubuska. In an ensemble usually used along with bagpipes and/or timpani.

In the 20th century mazanki was no longer in use, replaced by the double bass.