The flute - šaltva
Aljmaš, the 2nd half of the 19th century
wood
cutting, drilling, notching, carving
length = 31, 5 cm
width = 1,80 cm
distance from the side to the bottom of the instrument = 31,5 cm
distance from the side to the first finger-hole = 13 cm
distance between the finger-holes = ca 1,9 cm
Soundtrack: Stjepan Večković, playing the described instrument from the museum collection
POH-455/1920
The Collection of Musical instruments by Franjo Ksaver Kuhač
The šaltva is a one whistle vertical open flute with an inside blow pipe and six holes for playing. It is richly ornamented with geometrical, flower and plant motives under which there are two small gold plated rims. The flute is tuned to B.
“Every male child has to grow accustomed to playing at the earliest age, so that once he becomes a shepherd he will not need a teacher.” (Kuhač 1877: 12)
