Museumofworldmusic.com

Far East Asia / Tuva

Instruments

Name: Doshpuluur.

Type: Plucked Lute > Chordophones.

Region: Tuva > Siberia > Far East Asia.

Dimensions: Length 101 cm.

Source: Devan Miller @ The Tuva Trader (web site).

Acquisition Date: Christmas 2008.12.25 Thursday.

DoshpuluurDescription: Traditionally the doshpuluur is used in accompaniment to vocals in this case Tuvan throat singing. Close relatives to this doshpuluur include the dobshur found in neighboring Khakhassia, and in Mongolia. This doshpuluur is held like most lutes when it is played resting on the knees and held by the left hand and plucked or strummed with the right hand. My doshpuluur came with the tuning B-F#-B in which my instrument was pre-tuned to. I am not sure if this is the standard tuning. Though many other similar tunings such as C-G-C may work.

Anatomy of the Doshpuluur: The body is stretched with two peaces of animal hide over the front to the back. The neck goes through the body and the strings are attached from the tuning gears to the end of the shaft located at the bottom of the neck and body. On my specimen the strings are steel-wound silk guitar strings using these guitar strings nowadays is quite a common approach on the doshpuluur they do add a very deep and rich bass tone. An ornate carving of a horse or related theme are’ often done on the head-stock in which are representative of the Tuvan mythology.

A Foot Note:
Around the middle to the end of summer approximately late august. I was in email contact with "Devan Miller" he informed me at the time he was in Tuva. So I excitedly took the advantage in great anticipation of ordering the doshpuluur around Christmas on this day I received the doshpuluur yes as a Christmas present.

 

Citations: Atlasofpluckedinstruments.com >tuvatrader.com > a real good site and great source (Thank you Devan Miller) > Bibliography: > Discography: Tuva ~ Voices from the land of Eagles 2005CD > Pan Records and Echoes of the Spirit World 2013CD Pan Records >