Pulsatile instruments

      This page contains the items of information on different pulsatile instruments, except drum, to which a separate page is allocated.

Timbrel

    Timbrel was brought to Europe from Asia by wandering musicians, to Latvia it came in the end of XVIII century from Poland and Belorussia.
    Timbrel is made as a sieve, but instead of a grid a leather membrane is stretched by screws or the cord fixes. In a frame the oblong apertures are cut into which metal leafs and bells are inserted. The timbrel is played, tinkling and striking with a stick or hand on its membrane.

Devil drum was used by rural musicians for accompaniment to the dance tunes.     Devil drum has been made thus: the ends of a curve branch have been united by a wire, on which various tinkling subjects were strung.

Devil drum

Threestick

    The threestick has been mentioned in written sources for the first time in XVIII century, however its (and other similar instruments - bell tree, rattle sticks, chagans) use on weddings is indicative of their ancient origin. Similar instruments are not spread even at the closest neighbours, what can testify to their local origin.
    Threestick consists of a basis - metallic rod with a wooden handle, on the end of which some copper or brass disks are put. To edges of disks are suspended with small tinkling metallic plates.

    Bell tree is made from a fur-tree top or a rich branch. The small branches are peeleled, bent and adhered to the main branch. Afterwards birds feathers, cocrowbar, reed, coloured strips of matter and papers, are adhered to them to decorate the bell tree and sounding strings, buttons, campanulas and bells are attached.

Clappers

    Clappers make by an attachment of plates to a wooden basis.

Washboard

    The washboard, of course, first of all is intended for washing linen, however people always have known how to use household objects for playing music.

Belt with harness bells

    Harness bells were hung to a vehicle during a celebration, for instance, wedding.

    Triangle Latvian (especial Latgalian) musicians use from a beginning of XIX century.
    A triangle was made from a forged metallic twig, bent in an equilateral triangle; the upper ends of the twig do not reach one another, and they are bent. Triangle is hanged up or hold in a hand, the sound is extracted by palpation with a metallic twig or nail.