Gusli (English spelling)

Japanese: グースリ（英語表記）gusli

A Russian plucked string instrument. It belongs to the zither-type string instruments and has the oldest origins in the country. It is said to have been used by Russian bards to accompany the bylina. The body is placed on the lap, and the strings are plucked with a pick in the right hand to produce sound and muffled with the left. There are three types: wing-shaped, helmet-shaped, and box-shaped. The wing-shaped type is common in northwestern Russia, has 5-14 diatonic strings, and is similar to the kantele, a similar zither-type string instrument from Finland. The helmet-shaped type is widespread in southeastern Russia, is slightly larger, has 10-36 strings, and is similar to similar instruments in Tatar and Chuvash countries.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

ロシアの撥弦楽器。チター型弦楽器に属し，この国では最も古い起源をもち，ロシアの吟遊詩人がブイリーナの伴奏に用いたといわれる。ひざの上に胴をのせ，右手にピックを持って弦をはじいて音を出し，左手で音を消す。翼形，兜形，箱形の3種がある。翼形は北西ロシアに多くみられ，全音階的な5～14弦をもち，フィンランドの同じチター型の弦楽器カンテレと似ている。兜形は南東ロシアに広がっていて，やや大きく，10～36弦をもち，タタールやチュバシなどの同種の楽器と類似している。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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