The salamuri () is a Georgian wind instrument which resembles a recorder. It is a staple part of Georgian folk music, and is ancient in origin, with early examples being in bone. Modern salamuris are made from wood, especially apricot or walnut. There are two main varieties, reeded and non-reeded, which require different techniques of crafting and playing. One player can sometimes play two salamuris at once by using either hand.
Description
The salamuri is a widespread wind musical instrument found in all regions of Georgia (especially in Kartli, Kakheti, Meskheti, Tusheti, Pshavi, and Imereti). Relics obtained from archaeological excavations prove the existence of the salamuri in Georgia during ancient times.
Types of salamuri
In Georgia, there are two kinds of salamuris preserved till the present day: reeded and unreeded salamuri. These two kinds of salamuri differ in their timber, form, sound range and resonance. The unreeded salamuri represents a pipe of approx. 380-400mm in length. It has 8 front keys and sometimes one key on the back side. The first front key is placed 13 cm. apart from the head, but the other 6 front keys are separated by equal distance (3 cm). It is often made from cane, apricot-tree, reed and elder. It becomes slightly narrower towards the end, to blow in comfortably. The unreeded salamuri has a diatonic scale of one octave. By overblowing, its compass increases. The unreeded salamuri is mainly used in parts of east Georgia (Kakheti, Kartli, Meskheti, Tusheti and Pshavi). But the reeded salamuri represents a wooden pipe of 23–36 cm. in length with a cut-off head. As usual, it has 8 front keys and one back key (between front first and second keys).
The reed of salamuri is a small tap (1,2-1,5 cm) inside the pipe. Reeded salamuri is more often made out of walnut and apricot trees. Despite the fact that the reeded salamuri is smaller than the unreeded one, its technical abilities are considerably higher (richer sounding and larger sound range). It is more difficult to design the reeded salamuri and requires master's experienced hand. The salamuri has a diatonic scale of one octave. By overblowing, its compass increases. The wood material for salamuri should be proportionally grown up, straight, carefully cut down and drilled from the beginning to the end. The hollow and surface should be well polished. Then they would cut the pipe's head and attach the instrument's reed to this place. On the surface, the area of reed is a bit cut off. Only from this air way the air should be emitted, that is why the blowing part (neck) is entirely closed. Then they cut 8 oval front keys along the instrument's reed. They should be separated from each other by equal distance (2 cm). The 9th key is cut out on the opposite side of the pipe (between first and the second keys). Thus, the salamuri is divided into three parts: the head or neck part, body or the key part and the ending. Each of them has its own size and a certain interrelation. The closer the first key is to the reed of the instrument the more high-pitched sound is produced. Salamuris are usually played by men. The reeded salamuri is widely spread all over Georgia. Salamuri started its existence in pastoral atmosphere. Consequently, salamuri's repertoire mainly consists of shepherd melodies. It was often accompanied combined with “Doli” (drum).
The reeded salamuri seems to be originated a bit later than the unreeded one and it was the widest spread folk instrument all over Georgia. That is made evident not only by the legends but also by the monuments of classical literature.
Differing techniques
Professional salamuri players say that there is a difference between techniques of performance on these instruments: the reeded salamuri is more difficult to play than the unreeded one. However, one can play any melody he/she wants on the reeded salamuri. The technical abilities of the unreeded salamuri are limited.
When designing the salamuri, masters take into account with which instrument it is going to be played. According to this, they define the octave range of the instrument. The masters can design two kinds of salamuris: I-part and II-part (deep-voiced salamuri is also produced).