{{Short description|Russian musical instrument}} {{More citations needed|date=May 2010}} thumb|Rozhoks from the Russian Ethnographic Museum, first half of 20th century
The '''rozhok''' ({{langx|ru|рожок}}) is an ancient Russian wooden trumpet, a relative of the cornett, which has remained in continuous use until the present day.<ref>Baines A. (1967) ''Woodwind Instruments and their History''</ref> == Names == thumb|left|200px|Rozhok horns of varying sizes. A rozhok can be called be various names: '''shepherd's horn''' ({{langx|ru|пастуший рожок}}), '''Russian horn''' ({{langx|ru|Русский рожок}}), or '''song horn''' ({{langx|ru|песенный рожок}}). A popular variant is ({{langx|ru|Владимирский рожок}}, '''''Vladimirskiy rozhok''''', "Vladimir horn"), due to the success of a chorus of rozhok players under the leadership of Nikolai Vasilyevich Kondratyev from the Vladimir region.<ref>[http://grenada.al.ru/enciklopedia/rojvlad.htm Энциклопедия музыкальных инструментов - Владимирский Рожок] {{in lang|ru}}</ref>
== Structure == A rozhok is a conical straight tube with the six playing holes: five on top and one underneath. The total length of a rozhok ranges from 320 to 830 mm (13" to 33"). A mouthpiece is cut in the form of a small cup, and the lower end of the tube is shaped like a conical bell. A rozhok is usually made of birch (mostly birch bark), maple, or juniper. In the past they were made in two halves fastened together with birch bark; today they are turned.<ref>[http://spacenation.info/rojok_pastusheskii.html Владимирский Рожок на Spacenation.info]{{dead link|date=May 2025}} {{in lang|ru}}</ref> The sound of a rozhok is strong, but mellow, having a range of about an octave, or a little more. There are several types of rozhoks: the shortest one, having the highest sound is called ''vizgunok'' (squeaker), typically in F# or G; the longest and thus the lowest one is called ''bas'' (bass), in F# or G an octave below, while a mid-size instrument is called a ''polubasok'' (half-bass), typically in C. It is ''polubasok'' instruments that are most frequently used for solo playing. Rozhok ensembles usually consist of just ''vizgunok'' and ''bas'' instruments in the ratio 2:1 (twice as many high-pitched horns).
== Varieties ==
As of 2015, rozhok ensembles exist in Moscow,<ref>[https://vk.com/rozhki МОСКОВСКИЙ ХОР РОЖЕЧНИКОВ]</ref> Vladimir<ref>[http://www.ocnt33.ru/about/collectives/102/ Ансамбль "Владимирские рожечники"]</ref> and Nerekhta.<ref>[https://vk.com/club22987169 Народный коллектив фольклорный ансамбль "Нерехтские рожечники"]</ref>
==See also== * Russian horn orchestra * Timeline of Russian inventions and technology records
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == *[http://www.barynya.com/mp3/zhukovski_rozhok.mp3 Sound sample] *[http://folkinst.narod.ru/rozok.html An article in Russian and photos] *[http://www.vimeo.com/1069924 A video documentary about Vladimirskiy Rozhok] - from a series "Странствия музыканта" by Sergey Starostin {{in lang|ru}}
{{Russian musical instruments}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vladimirskiy Rozhok}} Category:Russian musical instruments Category:Russian inventions Category:Russian folk music Category:Woodwind instruments