The kanklės (Lithuanian: [ˈkɐŋʲkʲlʲeːs]) is a string instrument played by plucking the strings. It belongs to the Baltic box zither family, which is also called the Baltic psaltery. This family includes other similar instruments such as the Latvian kokles, Estonian kannel, Finnish kantele, and Russian gusli.

Etymology

According to Finnish linguist Eino Nieminen, the name of the instrument, along with similar names in nearby languages (such as Latvian kokles, Finnish kantele, Estonian kannel, and Livonian kāndla), may come from an ancient form of the word found in the Baltic language family, called kantlīs or kantlēs. This ancient word likely meant "the singing tree" and may have come from an even older language root shared by many languages, called qan-, which meant "to sing" or "to make a sound." This root is found in similar words in Latin (canto), Italian (cantare), French (chanter), and English (chant or cantor).

A Lithuanian ethnologist, Romualdas Apanavičius, suggests that the name Kanklės might instead come from an ancient European language root, gan(dh)-, which meant "a vessel" or "the handle of a sword." He believes this may be connected to the Russian word gusli.

Construction

Although kanklės can be different in various regions and among individual instruments, they share some common features in how they are built.

Kanklės are part of the zither family. This means their strings run parallel to the soundboard, unlike in a harp where strings are perpendicular. Also, the strings do not extend beyond the soundboard, unlike a guitar where strings go to the neck.

The body is made from a single trapezoidal piece of wood, such as linden, ash, oak, maple, or black alder. This piece is hollowed out to form a cavity. A thin sheet of softwood, typically spruce, is used to create the soundboard that covers the body. Soundholes, often shaped like a flower or star, are cut into the soundboard to let sound escape.

A metal bar is attached to the narrow side of the body. Strings made of wire or gut are tied to this bar. The other ends of the strings are connected to tuning pegs placed in holes on the opposite side.

The kanklės is typically played while resting on the player's lap. It is played using fingers or a pick made from bone or quill.

History

According to Birutė Žalalienė, the psaltery, which came from Western Europe, may have been used in Lithuania to help with church singing since the 15th century. Later, it was used in folk music in Lithuania Minor and Samogitia.

The word "kanklės" was first written in 1580 by Jonas Bretkūnas in his Bible translation. In 1895 and 1898, Vincas Kudirka published two collections of folk songs adapted for choirs, both titled Kanklės. In 1906, Pranas Puskunigis started an ensemble of kanklės players, mostly students from the Veiveriai Teachers' Seminary, in Skriaudžiai. This group, called "Kanklės" since 1984, is still active today. A school for kanklės players opened in 1930 in Kaunas. Kanklės have been taught at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre since 1945. Concert kanklės were first made in 1964.

Types

Apanavičius divides the kanklės into three main traditional types. Each type has differences within it, and some types are found in similar areas. Each type also has its own way of being played.

• Kanklės of Northeastern Aukštaitians: These are the simplest and oldest form. They are made from one piece of wood shaped like a boat or coffin.
• Kanklės of Western Aukštaitians and Samogitians: These are slightly larger than those of Northeastern Aukštaitians. They usually have 8 to 12 strings. They have a flat bottom, and sometimes the shorter end has a carved design of a bird or fish tail.
• Kanklės of Northwestern Samogitians and Suvalkians: These are often the most decorated type. Concert kanklės are usually based on this variety. A carved spiral is added to the tip of the instrument, and sometimes the narrow end is rounded. These instruments typically have 9 to 13 strings.

Concert kanklės, which can play more than four octaves (29 strings, from C3 to C7) and include all notes, were made in 1964 by P. Kupčikas. This design followed the work of P. Stepulis and D. Mataitienė. In the 1960s, these kanklės were inspired by Latvian concert kokles, which were first created in 1951.