kaval
A kind of a rim-blown flute open on both ends, made of one piece ash wood and ornamented along the whole length. The upper end has a slightly tapered sharp edge. The kaval has 7 finger holes on front and one thumbhole on the back. The holes are spaced evenly (2cm apart), with the sixth hole approximately in the middle of the instrument.
When played, the kaval is held with both hands at an angle of approximately 45° from the body, with the four fingers of the one hand covering the lower holes; the upper three holes and the thumbhole are covered with the other hand. The mouth covers ~3/4 of the end. Change of the breath air pressure also changes the pitch.
The kaval is usually mounted on a wooden holder (arbija), which protects it from warping and helps keep the interior walls oiled.
According to the key, the kaval can be in the high register (C, C#), middle (D, H) or low (A, B).
The kaval plays two octaves and a fifth, in the chromatic scale. Its sound is warm, melancholic and pleasant.
While in the past it was almost entirely a shepherd's instrument, today it is widely used in folk songs and dances as part of ensembles or solo.
The kaval is commonly used in pairs. The first kavaldzija (or vodach) leads and the second drones (polagach), with a kaval in the same key, usually a lower one, like C, C#, D, although other keys are also in use.
The caliber of the kaval is 16mm. Also available is a 17mm kaval, which is recomended to the more experienced kavaldzii by the instrument maker, Stojanče Kostovski.