Gusle - Varieties

Varieties

The varieties of the guslar music are based on cultural basis; the content of each group is different, as different epic poems are used to accompany the instrument. Vocality provides the main difference to be found across every region concerning Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia, while Albanians also use the Albanian language. The instrument itself is identical, only the design of the neck and head changes; the Serbian gusle has Serbian motif etc.

The gusle consists of a wooden sound box, the maple being considered as the best material (therefore often the instrument is referred to as "gusle javorove" - maple gusle), covered with an animal skin and a neck with an intricately carved head. A bow is pulled over the string/s (made of horsetail), creating a dramatic and sharp sound, expressive and difficult to master. The string is made of thirty horsehairs. The most common and traditional version is single-stringed (in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Zagora in Croatia), while a much less version is the two-stringed (in Bosanska Krajina and in Lika). They are held between the legs with the long neck supported on one thigh.