Kokle

1991 Soviet postage stamp depicting a kokle among other traditional Latvian instruments

Kokle (Latvian pronunciation: ['kʊ͡ɔk.le]) is a Latvian plucked string musical instrument (chordophone), of the zither family. It is similar in construction and origin to the Lithuanian kanklės, Russian gusli, Estonian kannel and Finnish kantele.

Origin

The first written information about kokle players is from the 15th century. The Baltic tribes developed the kokle based on similar zithers played by the Finnic and Slavic peoples of the region. Legendarily, the strings of the kokle were said to represent the sun. A kokle at the Historical Museum in Riga shows Latvian runes.

Construction

The kokle has a hollow trapezoidal body, topped with a thin wooden soundboard. Wooden tuning pegs are set into the wide tip of the body, while at the narrow tip is a metal rod upon which the strings are secured. The strings may be of gut, plant fibres, brass, or steel. Traditionally, there were 6-9 strings which later increased to 10.

Playing

The player generally plays the instrument sitting at a table, strumming with his right hand and muting unwanted strings with his left hand. The kokle is generally tuned in a diatonic scale, with some lower strings functioning as bourdons (drones) which continuously sound.

Variants

Latgales kokle player in Riga

Kurzemes kokle

In the Latvian historical region of Kurzeme, kokles are constructed without a "wing", but with ornate carving and ornaments.

On May 17 2015, during Latvia's presidency of the Council of the European Union, a Kurzemes kokle built by the crafter Jānis Rozenbergs was donated to the Musical Instruments Museum of Brussels.

Latgales kokle

In the largely Catholic Latgale region of Latvia, the kokle has a wing, which reinforces the sound and is used as an arm support. Compared with Kurzemes kokles, the finish is less thorough; the instruments are bigger, and heavier, with more sober decoration.

The Augšzeme and Vidzeme districts of Latvia played both types of kokle, as well as mixed forms, for example kokles with beak-shaped wings.

At the end of the nineteenth century kokle traditions were influenced by the construction of the Western zither. Thus arose the so-called zither kokles: kokles with larger, zither-type cases, steel tuning pins, and an increased number of strings.

Concert kokle

A larger "concert kokle" with a wider range of notes has been developed, and some of these have devices to change the pitches of strings in order to change keys.

In modern music

Alliage III by the Danish composer Niels Rosing-Schow uses two kokles tuned a quarter-tone apart along with violin, cello, and accordion.

The Kokle is demonstrated as a folk instrument by the Latvian National Kokle collective Teiksma, Koklētāju Ansambļiem (The Legends Harpers Ensemble) performing in Latvia and at Latviešu dziesmu svētki, 'Latvian song festival' held in the nations of the Lativan diaspora. The Teiksma folk musicians are associated with the Folk Music Department of the Latvian Academy of Music titled Latvijas Mūzikas akadēmijā in Latvian. Founded by Tamara Jansone in 1955, the Latvian national Kokle ensemble played its 50th anniversary concert in 2005 and is headed by Teiksma Jansone, the school is located in Kronvalds Boulevard 8, Riga.

An Australia-based Latvian folk music group, Zigrīda Ansamblis uses the kokle in their performances.

Further reading

• On Some Relations Between Kokles Styles And Contexts In The Twentieth Century, Valdis Muktupāvels (University of Latvia)
• Valdis Muktupāvels. Kokles un koklesana Latvija (The Baltic Psaltery and Playing Traditions in Latvia; 2nd edition). Riga. 2013.[1]