John Katsikas, santouri player, Oak Park, Illinois
Summary
Online digital image numbers may be offset by 1 or 2 digits from the film negative frame numbers.
Film negative frame numbers, descriptions: 1-4, Mr. and Mrs.John Katsikas, 1123 W. Jackson Blvd., Oak Park, Illinois; 5-22, John Katsikas with santouri; 23-27, holding mallets (discussed on sound recordings at call numbers AFC 1981/004: AFS 20536 and AFS 20537); 28-29, photo of the Katsikas Orchestra, 1939; left to right, Chris Fotopulos, John Katsikas, Sam Fotopulos (Chris' brother), Gus Katsikas (John's brother); 30-31, photo of the Katsikas Orchestra, 1952; left to right, Andrew Cerra., Ray Janas, Sam Fotopulos, John Katsikas (playing cymbalon from Hungary), Lucas Katsikas (John's father}, Chris Fotopulos; 32-35, John Katsikas entire repertoire written out; probably drafted in response to phone call from fieldworker Peter Bartis prior to this photo-documentation visit.
Cimbalom, an elaborate stringed instrument of the dulcimer family used in small music ensembles by central European Roma (Gypsies). The instrument has a trapezoidal body that stands on four legs. It has a chromatic range of four octaves and, unlike other dulcimers, a pedal mechanism for damping the strings. The cimbalom has about 125 metal strings, with 3 to 5 strings per note. Some of the strings have two or three bridges along their length. The musician, who plays in a seated position, strikes the strings with two small, spoon-shaped wooden hammers, one held in each hand. The hammers are covered with either hard or soft leather, depending on the tone quality desired.
Nothing Found.