Autumn trumpet and Keremet's gift: what you need to know about Mari musical instruments
Music is an integral attribute of Mari culture. National instruments invariably sound at every holiday, but few people know about their history and purpose.****
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****Shyzhe Puch********
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The name of the instrument translates as “autumn trumpet.” With its help, the Mari people gave certain signals: for example, when hunting or rafting timber. And if in the fall a girl played the shyzhe pooch, this indicated her readiness to get married.****
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****Shuvyr********
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Shuvyr is a Mari bagpipe. This is not only a musical instrument, but also a magical instrument that can “talk” with birds and herbs, and also contributes to a rich harvest. That is why they walked around the fields with bagpipes.****
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The wavemaker was always invited to the wedding. He did not take money - he was given towels and shirts. By their number one could find out how many times the musician played at the festivals.****
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****Kӱsle********
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Mari gusli is called “kusle”. There is a belief that the shuvyr is a gift from the evil spirit Keremet, and that the kusle was given to the Mari by Kugu Yumo. According to legend, he himself played the harp while sitting on a cloud.****
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The instrument was made in the shape of a trapezoid from thin boards of birch, fir and maple. Previously, strings were made from sheep intestines, now they are made from steel. At first there were 15-17 of them, in our time their number reaches 35. They were played standing, sitting and even on the move.****
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Kusle was played at weddings, holidays and prayers in kosoto (sacred groves). According to tradition, every girl must be able to play the harp, otherwise she will not be married. ****
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****Marla-carmon********
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The accordion is a younger, but no less popular instrument. In order for its sound to correspond to the melody of Mari songs, the harmonica was rearranged to the pentatonic scale - a traditional musical scale. This is how the gauze pocket appeared.****
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****Tumyr****
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Tumyr is a double-sided drum that beats the rhythm for Mari melodies. The body was made by hollowing out the core of a linden or aspen trunk. The tumyr is played with two oak or maple mallets 25 centimeters long. The musician could hit the drum while hanging it over his shoulder on a belt, or while sitting, placing it on his knees. ****
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Tumyr also signaled the gathering for a holiday or ritual. Nowadays it is usually played in an ensemble along with other musical instruments.****
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The Mari people also use many other ancient instruments: pipes, rattles and mandolins.
****
****Shyzhe Puch********
****
The name of the instrument translates as “autumn trumpet.” With its help, the Mari people gave certain signals: for example, when hunting or rafting timber. And if in the fall a girl played the shyzhe pooch, this indicated her readiness to get married.****
****
****Shuvyr********
****
Shuvyr is a Mari bagpipe. This is not only a musical instrument, but also a magical instrument that can “talk” with birds and herbs, and also contributes to a rich harvest. That is why they walked around the fields with bagpipes.****
****
The wavemaker was always invited to the wedding. He did not take money - he was given towels and shirts. By their number one could find out how many times the musician played at the festivals.****
****
****Kӱsle********
****
Mari gusli is called “kusle”. There is a belief that the shuvyr is a gift from the evil spirit Keremet, and that the kusle was given to the Mari by Kugu Yumo. According to legend, he himself played the harp while sitting on a cloud.****
****
The instrument was made in the shape of a trapezoid from thin boards of birch, fir and maple. Previously, strings were made from sheep intestines, now they are made from steel. At first there were 15-17 of them, in our time their number reaches 35. They were played standing, sitting and even on the move.****
****
Kusle was played at weddings, holidays and prayers in kosoto (sacred groves). According to tradition, every girl must be able to play the harp, otherwise she will not be married. ****
****
****Marla-carmon********
****
The accordion is a younger, but no less popular instrument. In order for its sound to correspond to the melody of Mari songs, the harmonica was rearranged to the pentatonic scale - a traditional musical scale. This is how the gauze pocket appeared.****
****
****Tumyr****
********
Tumyr is a double-sided drum that beats the rhythm for Mari melodies. The body was made by hollowing out the core of a linden or aspen trunk. The tumyr is played with two oak or maple mallets 25 centimeters long. The musician could hit the drum while hanging it over his shoulder on a belt, or while sitting, placing it on his knees. ****
****
Tumyr also signaled the gathering for a holiday or ritual. Nowadays it is usually played in an ensemble along with other musical instruments.****
****
The Mari people also use many other ancient instruments: pipes, rattles and mandolins.