Cowbells

Cowbells are known by different names in Basque in different areas and dialects. “Joare”, “zintzarri” and “arran” (in Bizkaia) are generic terms; but they are generally distinguished with onomatopoeic names depending on their size: “dunba” or “punpa” for the larger ones, “tulunta” for the medium ones and “zintzarri” for the small ones - or even “xilintxa” – or jingle bell. In Pyrenean regions the term “truko” or “truka” is also used, a loan word from the Aragonese language ("trucar" means to call, and "trucos" are large cowbells).

The bells themselves are made of iron plate coated in copper or brass. The plate was bent into a more or less ballooned cylinder shape or into a trapezoid. The top had a handle through which the collar was fitted, and from a clapper was hung. The clapper might be made of metal, wood, horn or even stone. The noise was made by the banging of the mouth against the base.

Each shepherd or cattle farmer tried to ensure that all his bells sounded the same, to distinguish his stock from other animals. The main purpose of the cowbell is to make it easier to locate sheep, cows or horses in upland pastures. They were also thought to provide spiritual protection. In addition, they announced the passing of the large transhumant herds.

The oldest bell in the set is also the most wide-bellied. It comes from the Peñadegitxiki farmhouse in Oiartzun (Gipuzkoa) and was donated to the San Telmo Museum by Manuel Lekuona in 1917.

Bibliography:

Garmendia Larrañaga, Juan. Yoarea = El “yoare”. In: Euskal esku-langintza = Artesanía vasca. Donostia = San Sebastián : Auñamendi, 1970. III, 38-49

Leizaola, Fermín de. Uztai egillea. Anuario de Eusko Folklore. XXII, 1967-1968, 207-211.

Leizaola, Fermín de. Burdina: Burdingintza eta forjaketa tradizionala : [Gipuzkoako Foru Aldundiaren Kultur Departamentuak Antolatutako Erakusketa] = Hierro : Ferrería y Forja Tradicional : [exposición...]. [San Sebastián]: Diputación Foral de Guipúzcoa, Departamento de Cultura, Educación, Deportes y Turismo. 1989. 48-49

http://www.euskomedia.org/PDFAnlt/jgl/02001375.pdf