Gusle

What it means

The gusle, also spelled gusla, is a single-string bowed instrument of the Balkans. Its body is made of wood and covered with animal skin, the string is of horsehair, and the neck is decorated with a carved animal head. It is played with a curved bow while seated, the instrument held between the knees.

Musical use

In Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia, and Croatia the gusle accompanies the recitation of epic heroic songs that tell of battles, rulers, and historical events. The singers, called guslars, deliver the long verses in recitative style and use the gusle as a monotonous but insistent accompaniment and for interludes. The tradition is preserved as intangible cultural heritage of the region and forms an important part of folk music.

The gusle should be distinguished from the medieval fiddle and the violin, which have several strings and are played with a different technique, and from the gusli, a Russian board zither that despite the similar name is a plucked instrument with many strings.

Performance practice

If you play the gusle, hold the bow loosely and let the single tone sound evenly; the melody arises from finger pressure on the string without a fingerboard. Concentrate on the link between voice and instrument, since the singing carries the narrative and the gusle supports it.