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Gudalo
A bass instrument made of a
clay pot
 
In
'Bela krajina' it preserved mainly because people were relatively poor and they could not
afford other instruments. Until about 30 years ago there was no house where it would not
be played at, however, then radio gradually became more prominent than the folk music
performed at home individually. Until then, they spent winter nights playing and
singing,
after all: there was not much else that they could do. They used different
instruments: harmonica, flute, 'gudalo', everything they had.
For 'gudalo' they used an oven pot or a pot for sour milk or
lard,
everything was very useful. In the winter when they had 'pork and sausage' they dried
pig's bladders. When it was dry they blew it up and children used it as a ball or they
made 'gudalo'. When spring came they took the instrument apart and the pot was used for
its original purpose, that is: they did not break it.
The
Duquesne University Tamburitzans of Pittsburgh, the folklore group
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Revival of the 'gudalo'
Vera Vardjan revived the old folk music instrument known as 'gudalo'. It is a clay
pot on the top of which a dry pig bladder is stretched. In the middle there is a straw rod
- thus everything is made from material found at home. The straw used is from a special
type of maize which was used in every household for brooms. Brooms made of birches were
used for sweeping outside the house, whereas those made of 'sirek' were used inside.
'Gudalo' is one of the most interesting folk instruments in Slovenia. "It was known
all over Europe, as well as it was frequently used in Slovenia, however, it died out in
the competition with other instruments", says Vera Vardjan.
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How to play and maintain 'the
gudalo'?
 Rub along a straw rod with wet fingers. While playing you should hold it
horizontaly since the membrane should be kept dry. From time to time it is recommended the
membrane should be oiled.
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Other home craft products
The tourist offer of Krnica tourist association contains some other indigenous home
craft products from different parts of 'Bela krajina': clay flasks, head-covering, weeded
bottles, wooden dustpans, slippers made of maize bast, wicker baskets and other straw
baskets, and specially painted Easter eggs or 'pisanice' and 'drsanke'. The latter are
painted eggs, however, the image on them is created by a carving with a knife on the
painted surface. It is a very demanding task which can take a very long time to complete
(however, one can make up to 20 'pisanice' in an hour), however, the result is
particularly aesthetically pleasing and artistic. In the shop there is also an exhibition
of the Dutch sculptor who has been living in 'Dragatus' already for ten years.
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