About kobzas
Kobza is traditional Czech musical instrument of the drone zither family. It has two melodic courses, which are played with either fingers or a wooden slider. It also has up to fifteen strings of accompaniment tuned to the chord or fifth. It used to be a widespread instrument in the folk environment until the first third of the 20th century. It was used exclusively to accompany singing.
The shape of the body was relatively variable, but the most common was a simple rectangular box. The kobza was played by plectrum in a position where the instrument lay on the table top. Some instruments did not have a back, so it was replaced by a table top during the playing. Similar instruments can be found under different names throughout Europe and even in the USA: Fidla (Ireland), Hummel (Sweden), Langleik (Norway), Scheitholt (German countries), Citera (Hungary), Appalachian dulcimer (USA). Unfortunately, the Czech Kobza, unlike, for example, the Hungarian Zither or the American Appalachian Dulcimer, is a dead instrument that is waiting to be rediscovered.
Pavel Kurfürst, Hudební nástroje, Praha 2002
