The rozhok (russian: рожок) is an ancient

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, a relative of the

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, which has remained in continuous use until the present day. It is also known as Vladimirskiy rozhok, (russian: Владимирский рожок, meaning "Vladimir horn").

Names

The origins of the instrument date to before AD 1600. The tradition of playing the ''rozhok'' in an

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probably dates to a much earlier time. It is possible that the name ''rozhok'' was used for the instrument later, and that in the earliest written sources it was simply called a pipe. A rozhok can be called be various names: shepherd's horn (russian: пастуший рожок), Russian horn (russian: Русский рожок), or song horn (russian: песенный рожок). At the end of the 19th century, the name ''Vladimir'' was added to this instrument's name (russian: Владимирский рожок, ''Vladimirskiy rozhok'', "Vladimir horn"), due to the success of a chorus of rozhok players under the leadership of Nikolai Vasilyevich Kondratyev from the

Vladimir Vladimir may refer to: Names * Vladimir (name) for the Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Macedonian, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak and Slovenian spellings of a Slavic name * Uladzimir for the Belarusian version of the name * Volodymyr for the Ukr ...

region.

Structure

A rozhok is a conical straight tube with the six playing holes: five on top and one underneath. The total length of a rozhok ranges from 320 to 830 mm (13" to 33"). A mouthpiece is cut in the form of a small cup, and the lower end of the tube is shaped like a conical bell. A rozhok is usually made of

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, or juniper. Musicians say that rozhoks of juniper have the best sound. In the past they were made in the same manner as a shepherd's rozhok, in which two halves are fastened together with birch bark; today they are turned. The sound of a rozhok is strong, but mellow, having a range of about an octave, or a little more. There are several types of rozhoks: the shortest one, having the highest sound is called ''vizgunok'' (squeaker), typically in F# or G; the longest and thus the lowest one is called ''bas'' (bass), in F# or G an octave below, while a mid-size instrument is called a ''polubasok'' (half-bass), typically in C. It is ''polubasok'' instruments that are most frequently used for solo playing. Rozhok ensembles usually consist of just ''vizgunok'' and ''bas'' instruments in the ratio 2:1 (twice as many high-pitched horns).

Varieties

Rozhok's folk tunes are divided into four stylistic varieties: signal, song, dancing, and dance, with a large number of songs in all styles. There are several types of shepherd's signals and more of others. The main repertoire is song folk-tunes. As of 2015, rozhok ensembles exist in

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and Nerekhta.Народный коллектив фольклорный ансамбль "Нерехтские рожечники"
/ref> In addition, rozhoks can sometimes be heard in Russian folk orchestra concerts.

References

External links

Sound sampleA video documentary about Vladimirskiy Rozhok
- from a series "Странствия музыканта" by

Sergey Starostin Sergey may refer to: * Sergey (name), a Russian given name (including a list of people with the name) * Sergey, Switzerland Sergey is a municipality in the district of Jura-Nord Vaudois in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. History Sergey is ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vladimirskiy Rozhok Russian musical instruments Russian inventions Russian folk music Woodwind instruments ru:Рожок

Names

Structure

Varieties

See also

References

External links