The fiddle
Otoci, the second decade of the 20th century
wood
cutting, gouging, drilling, carving
length of the instrument = 62,5 cm
length of the neck = 36 cm
body width = 26,5 cm
length from the first peg to the bottom of the instrument = 49 cm
length from the second peg to the bottom of the instrument = 54 cm
shorter string length = 38,5 cm
longer string length = 43,5 cm
Et 11364
The Collection of Musical Instruments
The fiddle is crafted from one block of dark wood. There are two holes for two pegs (“čivija”) on top of the neck, and two strings are tied to them. Strings were usually made of horsehair. The original strings are missing, and they have been replaced with one plastic string. Skin is drawn taught over the body and holes are drilled in it.
Guslari, the fiddlers, were singers who accompanied epic poems with the fiddle. Their singing had a solemn and majestic effect, which corresponded to the content of the heroic poems (Vojnović Traživuk 2015).
