Skip to content
cobza
EntityQ2216785· pop 14· linked from 91 articles

Also known as kobuza, kobuz, coboz, koboz, cobză

The cobza (also cobsa, cobuz, koboz) is a multi-stringed instrument of the lute family of folk origin popular in Romanian, Moldovan and contemporary Hungarian folk music. The cobza is a pear-shaped string instrument with a short neck and wooden body, traditionally used to provide rhythm and harmony in folk music. It can be played solo or in groups and is usually strummed with a folded goose feather. It is considered the oldest accompaniment instrument in the region comprising Romania and Moldova. The usage of a related musical instrument in Hungary may date back to at least the 16th century, p

Key facts

Instrument.name
Cobza
Instrument.names
Koboz
Instrument.image
Kobza_001.jpg
Instrument.image_size
150
Instrument.background
string
Instrument.classification
Necked bowl lutes String instruments
Instrument.hornbostel_sachs
321.321-6
Instrument.hornbostel_sachs_desc
Composite chordophone sounded with a plectrum
Intangible heritage.Name
Cobza, traditional knowledge, skills and music
Intangible heritage.Countries
Romania and Moldova
Intangible heritage.ID
02262
Intangible heritage.Region
ENA
Intangible heritage.Year
2025
Intangible heritage.Session
20th
Intangible heritage.List
Representative

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Image
Молдавская кобза.png
Show 2 more facts
Commons category
Cobza
Hornbostel-Sachs classification
321.321-6
Sources (4)

via Wikidata · CC0

~3 min read

Article

3 sections
Contents
  • Overview
  • References
  • External links

The cobza (also cobsa, cobuz, koboz) is a multi-stringed instrument of the lute family of folk origin popular in Romanian, Moldovan and contemporary Hungarian folk music. The cobza is a pear-shaped string instrument with a short neck and wooden body, traditionally used to provide rhythm and harmony in folk music. It can be played solo or in groups and is usually strummed with a folded goose feather. It is considered the oldest accompaniment instrument in the region comprising Romania and Moldova. The usage of a related musical instrument in Hungary may date back to at least the 16th century, possibly arriving with the Magyar tribes as early as the 9th and 10 centuries. The usage of the modern Romanian cobza in Hungary started following the Táncház movement of the late 20th century.

It is distinct from the Ukrainian Kobza, an instrument of different construction and origin.

Gallery (2)

Connections

Categories