| Other names | HS#:111.1 |
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The torokhkalo (Ukrainian: Трохкатало) - (Kalatalo, Torokhkavka, Klepach) is a Ukrainian folk instrument used in folk ensembles whenever a drum is not available. It was also used by night guards to scare away intruders. The instrument is made from a piece of wood with a handle. A second piece of wood shorter than the first is joined to the original piece by metal rings near from the handle. A hole is drilled through both pieces at one end and a wooden bolt is placed through the hole so that the additional piece can move a small distance. When the instrument is spun around it produces a very loud sound amplified by the stillness of the night.
A variant of the torokhkalo is the klepach that consists of a wooden hammer on an axis which is swung from one side to the other.