The cobza is a Romanian and Moldovan folk instrument of the lute family (also known as koboz in Hungary). It is distinct from the Ukrainian kobza, an instrument of a different organology and origin.[1]
The Romanian cobza is metal-strung (although nylon-strung models exist, mostly in Hungary), and has a very short neck without frets, with a bent-back pegbox. The back is ribbed. It is usually double or triple strung, and often has a characteristic flat endclasp.
The cobza is played with a plectrum in elaborate and florid melodic passagework, and has a pick-guard similar to that of an oud. Its strings are widely spaced at the bridge to facilitate this technique. It has a soft tone, most often tuned to D-A-D-G (although tuning depends per style, region and player).[2]
The Romanian cobza is a local adaptation of the Persian barbat or Turkish oud, probably brought to the area by itinerant gypsy musicians in the 15th century[3] (a gypsy musician is called lăutar, literally lute-player). A cobza player specifically is called a cobzar.[4]
The Romanina-Hungarian cobza was also played by Ukrainian musicians in various music ensembles in the Bukovyna region in the mid war periods, being replaced totally by the mandolin and 4 stringed domra when this area became incorporated into the Ukrainian SSR[5].
Etymology
The name of the instrument comes from turkic "kopuz".
Notable players include:
Grigore Kiazim
Ion Zlotea
Ion Strambeanu
Tudor Gheorghe
Marin Cotoanta
Fabri Geza
Matyas Bolya
Zoltan Katai
Tamas Kobzos Kiss
http://www.koboziskola.hu/ http://www.friweb.hu/enekmondo/opening.php