The kuvytsi is a primal instrument, relatives of which are found in ancient cultures from Greece to the Andes. Ukrainian kuvytsi are made from reed, elder, or viburnum: several thin tubes of varying length are bound together with bark or bast into a “comb.”
The player quickly moves the kuvytsi past the lips, blowing across to produce different pitches. The melodies are simple, pentatonic, often imitating birdsong or shepherd calls. In Ukraine, the kuvytsi is a women's instrument (unlike the trembita or sopilka, played mainly by men). It is associated with spring rituals, mermaid songs, and Polissian lullabies. Contemporary ethno-performers like Marichka Marchyk are bringing the kuvytsi back to the big stage.
