Gidulka and Tigulka in instrumental dance music of Meglenoromanians and Timok Romanians

Abstract

During research within various ethnic groups (Aromanians, Meglenoromanians, Lipovan Russians, Tartars, Turks) in the Dobruja region and among Romanians in the Bulgarian Timok (Albotina) region, I noted that proximity led to mutual borrowings. These exchanges, irrespective of their nature, entailed adaptations and transformations in accordance with the specificity of the ethnic group they had permeated. I shall focus on an instrument that made its way into the repertoire of Romanians south of the Danube – Meglenoromanians and the Romanians of the Bulgarian Timok. The tigulka/gidulka, a bowed string instrument, can be found throughout the Balkans all the way to Dalmatia.