Kurai is a musical wind instrument widespread in the culture of the peoples of Bashkiria and Tatarstan. In these Russian republics there are several varieties of it, depending on the structural features, as well as the material used to make the tool. According to the Hornbostel-Sachs classification (adopted in the music world and developed at the beginning of the 20th century), kurai refers to aerophones and a subgroup of flute.
Instruction manual
1
The rule of flute construction of the kurai is not strictly mandatory, since its other variety is widespread in Bashkiria - a reed musical instrument with a beating movable "tongue". Two types of kurai length are adopted - 120-180 millimeters and 450-1000 millimeters, depending on which the instrument acquires one or another dynamic capability, and also produces a different sound and has a different timbre. In Bashkiria and Tatarstan, it is also customary to make them from cut and previously dried stems of the Ural rebloodnik. But now this norm is no longer so strictly observed, since it is allowed to use veneered veneers or even metal.
2
Kurai in the culture of two nationalities is an integral attribute of not only solo performance, but also the performance of a musician as part of an ensemble or ethnic orchestra. By the way, residents of traditional Tatar villages also call this musical instrument sybyzgo - a term under which almost all wind instruments are united.
3
The diameter of a kurai flute is usually about 20 millimeters, there are 5 holes in it with a width of 5-15 millimeters. And 4 of them are located on the front side of the musical instrument, and 1 - on its back side. Depending on the location of the holes, the following variations of traditional kurai are distinguished:
- "kopse kurai", which is an open longitudinal flute with only two holes;
- "agach kurai" (literally "wooden kurai") of the whistle type, made from branches of hazel, viburnum or maple, with a length of 250-300 millimeters and a possible number of holes of 4-6 pieces;
- copper kurai, arranged as a slotted whistle flute, made of brass, with a length of 260-265 millimeters and 7 holes;
- "Kazan Kurai" (or "Kazan Kurai"), constructed on the principle of a whistle flute of a longitudinal type. It is usually very long - 580-800 millimeters, and also with hole variations - from 2 to 7;
- "Nogai kurai" with a length of 690-775 millimeters and 2 holes, which is considered a female musical instrument;
- a simple kurai from straws belonging to a subgroup of reeds and made from cereal straw. Its traditional length is 120-180 millimeters.
4
Since 1998, the Union of Republic Kuraists has been operating in Bashkiria, which ceased its activity for 4 years from 2003 to 2007, but then resumed it again. Specialists of this ethnic organization are fighting to preserve the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Volga peoples.
