Frula

The frula (, sr-Cyrl, фрула), also known as svirala (свирала) or jedinka, is a musical instrument which resembles a medium sized flute, traditionally played in Serbia. It is typically made of wood and has six holes. It is an end-blown aerophone. The frula is a traditional instrument of shepherds, who would play while tending their flocks.

For a list of similar instruments, see the section below.

Names

In Croatia it is commonly known as "jedinka". Other local names in Croatia include ''žveglica'', ''šaltva'', ''kavela'', ''ćurlik''. It has also been simply called "Serbian flute".

Overview

The frula is a small wooden flute with six holes. In the Balkans, the frula was played by shepherds while tending their flocks. It is a traditional instrument of Serbia, one of several aerophones used for leisure time, rituals, or accompanying the '' kolo'' (circle dance), along with long flutes (''duduk'', ''cevara''), the double flute (''dvojnice''), and the bag-pipe ('' gajde'').

Performers

Notable frula players (''frulaši'') are Adam Milutinović, Sava Jeremić, Tihomir Paunović, Neda Nikolić, Velja Kokorić, Borivoje Todorović, Bora Dugić, Slobodan Vukićević, Spasoje Jović, Andrija and Tomislav Bajić, Radovan Jovanović and others.

Legacy

There are many events dedicated to the frula, such as the ''Prva pastirska frula'' in Jagnjilo, ''Dani Save Jeremića'' in Ražanj, ''sabori frulaša'' in Lelić and Prislonica, ''takmičenja frulaša'' in Iđoš, and ''Frula fest'' in Kruševac.

A popular Serbian folk song is ''Ej čija frula'' ("O, whose frula"), recorded by, among others, Braća Bajić, Radiša Urošević and Cune Gojković.

;Other similar flutes
* ''shvi'', Armenia
* '' sopilka'', Ukraine
* '' lamzdeliai'', Lithuania
* '' floghera'', Greece
* '' furulya'', Hungary
* '' fujarka'', Poland
* ''kaval'', Turkey
* ''balaban'' or ''duduk'', double-reed, Armenia and Azerbaijan

References

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{{Serbian souvenirs

Fipple flutes
Serbian musical instruments
Croatian musical instruments
Serb music