 Dangubica or Samica, a stringed instrument from Croatia and Serbia (bridge missing.) | |
| String instrument | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Plucked |
| Related instruments | |
The dangubica or samica is a small Serbian12 and Croatian stringed instrument with two courses with either one or two strings each; a long, fretted neck; and a pear-shaped body.
One string (or pair or strings) is used to play the melody, while the second plays a continuous note, known as the drone.
Loosely translated, the word danguba means "to lose the day," referring to the instrument's origins among shepherds, who usually played alone as a way to pass the time. This also helps to explain the fact that tuning of the dangubica is widely varied.
It is related to the Turkish saz and tamburitza orchestra instruments.
References
References
- "bugarija". Europe (South). ATLAS of plucked instruments.
In Bosnia you may also find a smaller šargija, called bugarija. This instrument is probably the forerunner of the šargija. It is nowadays mainly used in rural areas, although not many people play it anymore. It resembles a bit the dangubica (or tambura samica) from Serbia (see EuropeEast)
- "tambura samica / dangubica". Europe (East). ATLAS of plucked instruments.
On the Balkan (in Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia) they still play a small saz-like instrument, which is called in some areas tambura samica and in others (like Lika in Serbia) it is known as dangubica. Also the name tambura kuterevka is used.