Zhaleika
Zhaleika | |
| Woodwind instrument | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Zhalomeika, sopel’, pishchelka, fletnya, duda, zgaleyka, zhalijka, rizhok |
| Classification | Single-reed aerophone |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 422.211.2 |
| Timbre | Piercing and nasal, sad and compassionate |
| Volume | High |
| Attack | Fast |
| Decay | Fast |
| Related instruments | |
| Hornpipe, clarinet, pishchiki | |
| Musicians | |
| V.V. Andreyev | |
The zhaleika (Russian: жале́йка), also known as bryolka (брёлка), is a Slavic wind instrument, most used in Belarusian, Russian and sometimes Ukrainian ethnic music. Also known as a "folk clarinet" or hornpipe. The zhaleika was eventually incorporated into the balalaika band, the Hungarian tarogato, and may have contributed to the development of the chalumeau, a predecessor of the clarinet.