Chuniri (Svan Bowed Fiddle)
The chuniri is the bowed fiddle of the Georgian mountain province of Svaneti, a round or tubular wooden body with a skin soundboard, three gut or horsehair strings and a heavy bow, held against the shoulder like a small violin. Because a bowed string can sustain a note, the chuniri is said to sing in place of a human voice, standing in for a singer in Svan hunting songs, work songs and choral polyphony; its two-string cousin, the chianuri, serves the same role in other highland regions such as Racha and Adjara. The instrument was the personal companion of Svan shepherds and hunters, who played