The tamburitza bisernica
Lepoglava, 19th century
wood, metal, paint
trimming, sawing, carving, coloring

 

length = 45,5 cm
soundbox = 5,3 x 14 cm
length of the neck = 31,8 cm

 

POH-446/1920
The Collection of Musical instruments by Franjo Ksaver Kuhač

Description

The tamburitza bisernica (prim) is made of red waxed wood in the shape of a smaller guitar, with a long neck and carved decoration at the end, with four wooden pegs. The front board of the soundbox is made of brighter wood and decorated with dark wood inlay on the edges. The prim was made by a convict from Lepoglava.

Note

The prim is the smallest of the tamburitza instruments, and according to Kuhač, it is the instrument of “master-tamburitza players,” which can only be played by the best tamboura players.
“... the tanbura is only used for jolly music, fit for dance and to accompany female and similar happy songs. Mourning songs, religious, mythological, or narrative songs, ballads, etc. are never accompanied by tanbura.” (Kuhač, 1877: 74)