Torban

Torban

Classification	Chordophone
Hornbostel–Sachs classification	321.321-5
Playing range
Varied
Related instruments
Lute Theorbo Angelique Kobza Starosvitska bandura Husli Bandura

The torban (Ukrainian: Торбан, also teorban or Ukrainian theorbo) is a Ukrainian musical instrument that combines the features of the Baroque lute with those of the psaltery.^[1] The Тorban differs from the more common European bass lute known as the theorbo in that it had additional short unfretted treble strings (known as prystrunky) strung along the treble side of the soundboard.

Overview

It appeared in the second quarter of the 18th century, probably influenced by the central European

Such aristocratic associations sealed the instrument's fate in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution: it was deemed insufficiently proletarian and was discouraged. A predecessor of the torban called the kobza (also sometimes referred to as the bandura) was the instrument of the common folk. It differed from the torban by the absence of a second peg box at the end of the neck and the lack of bass strings, and was closely related in its organology to central European mandora and other instruments descending from the pandura (also see lute).

Later in the 20th century, some banduras were often manufactured to imitate the look of the torban, which has also contributed to its misidentification.

See also

• Ukrainian folk music

Bibliography

• Cherkaskyi, L. - Ukrainski narodni muzychni instrumenty – Tekhnika, Kyiv, Ukraine, 2003 – 262 pages.
  ISBN 966-575-111-5

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Torban.