Cobza


The cobza is a multi-stringed instrument of the lute family of folk origin popular in Romanian and Moldovan folklore. It is also used in the Hungarian Táncház movement.
It is distinct from the Ukrainian Kobza, an instrument of a different construction and origin.

Overview

The Romanian Cobza is metal-strung, and has a very short neck without frets, with a bent-back pegbox. The back is ribbed. It is usually double or triple strung, and often has a characteristic flat end clasp.
The Cobza is played with a plectrum in elaborate and florid melodic passagework, and has a pick-guard similar to that of an oud. Its strings are widely spaced at the bridge to facilitate this technique. It has a soft tone, most often tuned to D-A-D-G.
The origins of the Romanian Cobza are thought to be a local adaptation of the Persian barbat or Turkish oud, probably brought to the area by itinerant Romanimusicians in the 15th century. A Cobza player specifically is called a "cobzar". Notable Cobza players were Ion Păturică, Ion Zlotea, Marin Cotoanță, Grigore Kiazim, Nicolae Păsnicuțu and Constantin Negel.
It is said that the Cobza was also played in the 19th Century by Jewish musicians from Moldova region. It seems that Cobza was also used in various music ensembles in the Bukovyna region in the mid war periods, being replaced totally by the mandolin and 4 stringed domra when this area became incorporated into the Ukrainian SSR.
The name of the instrument may come from the Turkic "kopuz".