Kaval

This article is about the flute. For the city in Iran, see Kavar. For the professional wrestler formerly known as Kaval, see Low Ki.
Kaval
Bulgarian kaval in key of D (Re), African blackwood, made in 2012 by master craftsman Radoslav Paskalev
Woodwind instrument
Classification Woodwind, Wind, Aerophone
Related instruments
Çığırtma, Dilli Kaval, Duduk, Flute, Frula, Kawala, Jedinka, Ney, Shvi, Sring
Bulgarian kaval in key of D (Re), Mopane wood, Pewter inlay - Wedding style kaval, made in 2012 by master craftsman Radoslav Paskalev, Virginia, USA
Vladimir Velichkov, an outstanding Bulgarian kaval player and composer

The kaval is a chromatic end-blown oblique flute traditionally played throughout the Balkans (in Albania, Romania, Bulgaria, Southern Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Northern Greece, and elsewhere)[1] and Anatolia (including Turkey, Kurdistan and Armenia).[2][3] The kaval is primarily associated with mountain shepherds.[1]

Unlike the transverse flute, the kaval is fully open at both ends, and is played by blowing on the sharpened edge of one end. The kaval has eight playing holes (seven in front and one in the back for the thumb) and usually four more unfingered intonation holes near the bottom of the kaval. As a wooden rim-blown flute, kaval is similar to the kawala of the Arab world and ney of the Middle East.

  1. ^ a b Rechberger, Herman (2018). Balkania: Rhythms in Songs and Dances From Albania, Bulgaria, The Republic of Macedonia, Romania and Serbia. Fennica Gehrman Ltd. p. 136. ISBN 9789525489279. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  2. ^ Courroy, Isabelle. "La famille des flûtes kaval". kaval.org. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  3. ^ Jeremy Montagu (29 October 2007). Origins and Development of Musical Instruments. Scarecrow Press. pp. 47–. ISBN 978-0-8108-7770-2.