Cymbalum

The cymbalum, cymbalom, ţambal, tsymbaly, or santouri is a musical instrument found mainly in the Gypsy music of Hungary, Romania, and Ukraine. It is related to the hammered dulcimer of Western Europe.

The small cymbalum developed from the Persian santur, which entered Europe during the Middle Ages. The instrument became popular with Romanian Gypsy musicians (lăutari) around the 19th century; by the end of the century was quite widespread, taking over from the cobza. [1] In Wallachia and Muntenia it is used almost as a percussion instrument. In Transylvania and Banat, the style of play is more tonal, heavy with arpeggios.

The small cymbalum is usually carried by the musician, using a strap around the player's neck and leaning one edge of the instrument against the player's waist.

In Hungary, a larger concert cymbalum, comparable to a piano, was first developed by József Schunda in the 1870s. It stands on four legs and has many more strings and a damping pedal. This instrument eventually found its way to Romania as well.

The instrument is known by different names in different countries, roughly:

;Hungary : cymbalum or cymbalom ;Romania : ţambal ;Ukraine : tsymbaly ;Greece : santouri