Moravian traditional music or Moravian folk music represents a part of the European musical culture connected with the Moravian region of the Czech Republic. Styles of Moravian traditional music vary by location and subject, but much of it is characterized by a specific melodic and harmonic texture related to the Eastern European musical world. According to Czech musicologist Jiří Plocek, Moravia is the area where the European East musically meets the West.
Folk musicians from Kunčice, Moravia (1890s)
Leoš Janáček collecting folksongs on 19 August 1906 in Strání
Cimbalom band of the folklore ensemble Malá Rusava.
The Moravian folk ensemble Hradišťan at the Břevnov Monastery in Prague
The cimbalom, cimbal or concert cimbalom is a type of chordophone composed of a large, trapezoidal box on legs with metal strings stretched across its top and a damping pedal underneath. It was designed and created by V. Josef Schunda in 1874 in Budapest, based on his modifications to the existing Hammered dulcimer instruments which were already present in Central and Eastern Europe.
Top view and playing area of a modern concert cimbalom
Concert cimbalom with a range of C to e′′′ made by Vencel József Schunda.
Modern concert cimbalom with a range of AA to a′′′ made by Kovács Balázs.
Schunda Cimbalom, late 1800s, E2-E6, + D2 string (from Emil Richards Collection)