Fujara

Fujara

Fujara is a unique Slovakian long flute (up to 2 m) with three finger holes, a recorder-like sound device (fipple) and an attached side pipe that leads in the air from the player's mouth. The playing techinque is a combination of using finger holes and changing the intensity of blowing (for achieving higher harmonics - overtones). The scale is mixolydian. The range goes from low mumbling sounds to clean high-pitched tones. The sound is harmonically rich, that is why this instrument has a very charming sound color. In 2005 it has been proclaimed one of UNESCO Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity (learn more about fujara history).

I make fujaras in all keys ranging G (small, 90 cm) to F (large, 195 cm). Large fujara in G (172 cm) is becoming a standard, but shorter instruments (e.g. A 155 cm, C 130 cm, D 115 cm) are popular too.

Sound samples: fujara A (scattertune 1tune 2), fujara G, fujara H

Download: Playing technique and a fingering chart for fujara in G (pdf)

Recommended: See an excellent lecture about fujara and other Slovakian flutes by Bob Rychlik on youtube, a documentary film about the Slovak shepherd's flute Fujara by Winfried Skrobek that provides an insight into the history, the home and the cultural context of the fujara, or browse a book "Fujara and other wind instruments of Central Slovakia" by Lorna Reay and Karol Kocik.