The Devil's Fiddle: Musical Heritage in the Midwest

Get ready to be enchanted by the Kashubians’ musical heritage in the Midwest…and their most spellbinding instrument—the Devil’s Fiddle! 🎻🎶🔮

✅ Listen to The Devil’s Fiddle: Musical Heritage in the Midwest on our podcast. We release new episodes of Travel with Jack and Kitty every day! Subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app. 🎙️❤️

Quick Summary: Kashubian Folk Music

Dive into the rich musical heritage of Poland and the fascinating story of the Kashubians in Winona, Minnesota.

Explore Poland’s diverse musical roots, from folk music to Chopin.🎶
Discover how Kashubians used music to keep their language and identity alive under foreign rule.🇵🇱
Get enchanted by unique Kashubian instruments like the Devil’s Fiddle. 🎻🔮

*An example of Kashubian Notes at the Polish Museum in our hometown of Winona, MN. Originally, this popular song had no words written on the music, only pictures.*

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The Kashubian Diaspora: Winona’s Musical Heritage

Heyyo! 🌏

Ever heard of Kashubians? These Polish folks have a rich history, and guess what? They’ve got a pretty cool presence in Winona, Minnesota – our hometown.

We have several friends who have super cool stories about their families immigrating here from Poland over 100 years ago! And they’re not alone. Winona is the “Kashubian Capital of America,” y’all. 🇺🇸🇵🇱

As Emmy-winning travel experts and musicians from the cozy town of Winona, Minnesota, My hubby Jack and I love sharing what’s cool in the Midwest. Want the inside scoop on our charming river town? Check out our “Ultimate Guide from a Local: Things To Do in Winona, Minnesota.”

A Bit of History

Between 1855 and 1900, around 115,700 Kashubians left their native lands and came to North America. Many ended up in Winona. 🌍

Today we’re diving Poland’s musical legacy and how it holds the keys to Kashubian heritage. Trust me, this one’s a story worth telling. 📚

Folk craft figure & manuscript of "Kaszubskie Nuty" ( "Kashubian Notes") at the Kashubian Cultural Institute & Polish Museum in Winona, MN. — Folk craft figure & manuscript of *“Kaszubskie Nuty” ( “Kashubian Notes”) at the Kashubian Cultural Institute & Polish Museum in Winona, MN.*

The Melodic Canvas of Poland

First off, let’s set the stage: Poland has an incredibly rich musical history. 🎶

I mean, we’re talking everything from Chopin’s soul-stirring compositions to the infectious rhythms of Polka. 💃

Today I want to focus on something that is SUPER fascinating to me. There’s a really cool story behind the Kashubians’ rich musical heritage and folk instruments. 😻

The Kashubian Resilience Through Music

Okay. So let’s zoom in on the Kashubian culture. One of their most popular tunes? The “Kaszubskie Nuty” ( “Kashubian Notes”), a counting song that families treasure.

Several examples of “picture cards” with songs like this from the 19th century still exist today. These cards feature drawn out pictures and notes to represent a song. 🎵 (Similar to how we use emojis to represent what we’re saying. 👍)

But why did the Kashubians draw pictures instead of using words in their music? 🤔

We saw this colorful piece - "Kaszubskie Nuty" ( "Kashubian Notes") at the Kashubian Cultural Institute & Polish Museum in Winona, MN. Notice the details of the drawn pictures and doll outfits. — *We saw this colorful piece – “Kaszubskie Nuty” ( “Kashubian Notes”) at the Kashubian Cultural Institute & Polish Museum in Winona, MN.* *Notice the details of the drawn pictures and doll outfits.*

Here’s the heart of our story: Back in the day, Kashubians turned to music as their ultimate tool of survival when they were invaded by various other countries during wartime. ✌️💔

Imagine living under foreign rule—by Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Russia— one that literally outlawed speaking your native language. By the time most of our Kashubians settled here in Winona, their homeland was still under occupation by other nations.

What did the Kashubians do? They let their music speak. 🗣️🎶

In a show of solidarity, Kashubians in Poland and around the world used “picture cards” and music to preserve their way of life.

When Prussian rulers tried to silence them and their language, the Kashubians fought back with songs.

They held these amazing performances where men, donned in quirky costumes, would play bass or violin, leading the community in song through pictures. 🎻

A fun get-together with really cool Devil's Fiddles and other Kashubian folk instruments! — *A fun get-together with some really cool Devil’s Fiddles and other Kashubian folk instruments!*

Kashubians used large boards with pictures (and musical notes) to guide them through the lyrics that they weren’t allowed to write down. It was like a sing-along, but also a lesson in history and language preservation. 🛡️

Over generations of occupation, families in Poland didn’t just stop with singing these songs at festivals or on market days.

They took the music home, using these “picture cards” to memorize the words represented by the pictures. These secret songs kept the language and, most importantly, their identity, alive. 🏡

In a world that tried to erase their voice, the Kashubians sang louder. 🗣️🎶

Isn’t it amazing how much music can bring people together, even during oppression and war?

The Devil’s Fiddle: A Kashubian Gem

Okay, now we’re gonna get to the fun stuff. Their cool instruments!

We have a Devil’s Fiddle right here in Winona! It was shipped here from Bytow, our sister city in Poland.

If you’ve ever been curious about the distinct sounds in Kashubian folk music, look no further than the mesmerizing Devil’s Fiddle (diôbelsczé skrzëpce). This one-of-a-kind instrument is far more than a simple fiddle—it’s an entire orchestra packed into a single, captivating work of art.

A Devil's Fiddle from Bytow, Poland (top half) — *A Devil’s Fiddle from Bytow, Poland (top half)*

The Devil’s in the Details

At first glance, the Devil’s Fiddle might look like something straight out of folklore. And you’d be right! Its roots lie in age-old Kashubian traditions.

Once upon a time, it was used during Zaduszki (All Souls’ Day) to scare away spirits and ghosts. It usually has a long stick topped with a mask representing a devil or a fantastical being, complete with long, straggly hair cascading from a hat adorned with jingling plates. 👺

An Orchestra in a Stick

The Devil’s Fiddle stands tall, measuring up to two meters. At its core, it features a violin-shaped plank connected to one, two, or even three wire strings that buzz when pulled.

But wait, there’s more!

Attached to this plank is a tin box filled with objects that rattle when shaken, offering drum and bass vibes all in one.🥁 🎸

You can even play additional sounds by striking the board or box with your hand or a stick, like a tambourine. The instrument is capable of generating a wide array of sounds—buzzes, squeaks, jingles, and rattles—it’s like a party in a stick!

These days, you’ll find the instrument predominantly in Kashubian folk bands. Painted in vibrant colors and embellished with ribbons, the Devil’s Fiddle brings life to any party!

*Cool Kashubian instruments in Winona, MN.*

A Buzzing Barrel

Another Kashubian instrument that keeps their traditions alive is the burczybas. 🎉 It’s a barrel filled with horse tail hair.

Yup, you read that right. 🐎

Someone holds it while another person pulls the tail to make this bad boy “speak.” It’s a unique drum that you don’t hit but… pull. 🥁

The Long Horn: Bazuna

Last but not least, let’s talk bazuna. It’s a wind instrument, made from young trees. 🌳

This horn is super long, stretching from 37 inches to 64 inches (95 cm to 165 cm) 🎺

Shepherds and fishermen used it as a signaling tool. Today, it’s part of Kashubian musical heritage. 🎼

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Summary: The Devil’s Fiddle & Musical Heritage in the Midwest

We just took a deep dive into Winona’s vibrant Kashubian culture, where music is a lifeline and tradition is an art form. Next time you’re in town, don’t miss the chance to explore these musical gems and soak up some European flair in the Midwest! 🌏🎵

Know Before You Go

You can see a Devil’s Fiddle at the Polish Museum in Winona, MN
Museum is open year round. Visit them: https://polishmuseumwinona.org
Free admission or $5 per person for a guided tour (recommended)
Hours: Monday through Saturday from 10AM – 3PM
Location: 102 Liberty St., Winona, MN 55987

✅ Don’t miss out! Listen to today’s podcast episode, The Devil’s Fiddle: Musical Heritage in the Midwest – where we go even deeper into this story. Remember, we release new episodes of Travel with Jack and Kitty every day! Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. 🎙️❤️