Torban: tool description, composition, history, use

Folk instruments are part of the culture of any nation. They are the progenitors of the style of music, this is how the art of the people develops. There are those that cannot be attributed to one particular state – they appeared simultaneously in several countries at once. Torban is one of them.

What is torban

This is a stringed plucked folk lute. It is either classified as a subspecies of the theorbo, or they are said to be related. Indeed, the populist descended from it, but it has many differences and modifications – it is difficult to call it a simple bass lute.

There are 30-40 strings, the sound is created with the help of plucks. Belongs to the lute family. There is a wide and long neck for bass strings, as well as a head for low bass strings. Differs in the presence of pristrunky.

The history of the tool

Torban belongs to Ukrainian and Polish folk instruments. It was widespread in the XVII-XIX centuries. Distribution received only in Ukraine. The torban was also called the “pansky bandura”, it was used mainly among the landowners.

At a later time, it was popular with Russians, but could not advance further than taverns.

The beginning of the XNUMXth century was a difficult test for the populist – he gradually began to fade away. Due to the high cost of manufacturing, and also because the “lower” class played it, the musical instrument was recognized as not proletarian.