Tárogató
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The tárogató (Romanian: torogoata) refers to two different woodwind instruments, both of them Hungarian. Up to about the 18th Century, the tárogató was a type of shawm: with a double reed, conical bore, and no keys. This instrument is documented as far back as the 15th century. A symbol of Hungarian nationalism, its use was suppressed in the 18th century.
In the 1890s a modern version was invented by Venzel József Schunda, a Budapest instrument maker. It is uses a single reed, like in a clarinet or saxophone. It is made out of wood and has a conical bore, similar to the soprano saxophone. The instrument is made of black grenadilla wood like a clarinet or lesser woods (in Hungary and Romania) and has a mournful sound similar to a cross between an english horn and a soprano saxophone.
Because of its potential to be extremely loud and raucous, the tárogató was used as a signalling instrument in battle (like the bugle and the bagpipe), and simply to strike fear into the hearts of the Hungarians' enemies.
See also
External links
- [Tárogató]
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