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THE ZIMBALON
OR CIMBALON (TAMBAL), DULCIMER OR BOARD ZITHER
The tambal (zimbalon or cimbalon, a dulcimer or board zither struck with hammers or beaters) is a harmonic accompanying instrument that is very popular in Moldavia, Wallachia and Oltenia (eastern and southern provinces of Romania). The tambal belongs to the same family as the middle eastern santur and was introduced in Romania around the 18th century. It takes a number of specific forms: a) the small zimbalon (tambalul mic) of which there is a tambal tuned in Romanian style and another tuned in Hungarian style, and b) the large zimbalon (tambalul mare) or concert dulcimer. The small zimbalon is used by traditional village groups (taraf), while the large zimbalon belongs to city taraf and "official" folk music groups. These are sometimes played by Transylvania and Banat taraf. The small zimbalon is made from a thick trapezoidal board on which strings are stretched (the highest are grouped in twos and threes), attached by nails (cuie) and slightly raised by small bridges. The musician strikes the strings alternately with the right and left hands using two mallets or hammers. The musician tunes the instrument according to set melodic and rhythmic forms called tiitură (de horă, de sârbă, de geampara, nemtească, etc.). If the sound of the instrument is too loud, the player smothers it using a handkerchief tucked between the strings. A good instrumentalist can play a number of simple melodies and accompaniment at the same time.
When it is equipped with a leather strap, the tambal mic may be
played while standing or walking, which is why it is used as an
instrument in wedding processions.
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