Paś-Filipek’s Cottage, Alcove

Heligonka - instrument muzyczny.

It is a small room in which various valuables worthy of care were stored because the house served as both a dwelling and a workshop when the weaving work was intense. Therefore, the linen used for special occasions is displayed on the bed, a domestic altar is visible on the chest of drawers and an Easter mobile hangs from the ceiling. Mobiles were a popular type of decoration made of various readily available materials (usually straw, threads or, later, tissue paper) and were believed to protect the house from misfortune.

On the sidepiece to the right is a ‘heligonka’, an instrument that used to be very popular as of the mid-19th century. The sound is produced by steel tongues vibrated by air, which were placed in two wooden boxes with buttons (not keys). The boxes were connected through the leather bellows for pressing or drawing in air. This instrument was common in the Austro-Hungarian monarchy and featured strongly in the folk music of Orawa. It was a part of home dancing parties, smaller wedding parties and family gatherings but went out of use with time. After many years, folk musicians are again showing interest in it.


 
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