surma
The Ukrainian surma is a type of shawm that had widespread use in the armies of the Cossack host. It is thought that the instrument was introduced into Ukraine from the Caucasus or Turkey where the similar instruments exist with related names such as zurna and surnai. The term is also often used to describe a type of wooden trumpet.
Also recorded as surma-horn
surma
- Name
- Surma
- Field
- shawm.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
The Ukrainian surma is a type of shawm that had widespread use in the armies of the Cossack host. It is thought that the instrument was introduced into Ukraine from the Caucasus or Turkey where the similar instruments exist with related names such as zurna and surnai. The term is also often used to describe a type of wooden trumpet.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Note VALÉORINE
No house-authored Note is published until its assertions and sources pass the VALÉORINE evidence contract. The documentary article remains available in full while that enrichment is being consolidated.
Documentary enrichment in progress · no unsupported statement published
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for surma. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Evidence Panel
not yet certified
- Identity
- resolved
- Independent source families
- 0
- Admitted assertions
- 0
- Open conflicts
- 0
Authority files
loc · nb2017001317 · wikidata · Q12158805 · wikipedia · Surma-horn
In this article
Overview
Overview
The surma is made of wood with a conical bore, having a bell at one end and a double reed similar to that used in the oboe at the other. It usually has nine to ten finger-holes and is capable of chromatic sounds through a range of dynamics. The instrument is reminiscent of the sound of the oboe. Presently the surma has found its way into the sound of Ukrainian folk instruments in a range of sizes such as prima, alto and bass. The word surma is also a common surname in the Ukrainian population.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Surma • Classification — *Aerophone • Hornbostel Sachs — 422.112 • Range — c 3 -g 5 • Related — * Surna • Surnai • Shawm • Sorna • Rhaita • Suona • Sopila • Birbynė
Primary material
Digitised editions and texts
Сурма [Surma] (2024) — DataCite (Institute of Encyclopedic Research, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Інститут енциклопедичних досліджень НАН України)).
Where the work is held
Holdings and surviving copies
Where material relating to surma is held.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
Connections
Knowledge graph
Connections
Each connection was recorded deliberately, with the basis for it kept on the internal record.
Broader subject
1- shawmTerminology
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
Naming and authority record. Those registers additionally record the forms Shuro, Dhuri, Churi, Suri, Shuri and Thuri.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Collectables
20,755 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Surf's UpWork
- Surfing H3OWork
- Surgeon SimulatorWork
- Surgical StrikeWork
- surozTerminology
- Surprise AttackWork
- SurroundWork
- sursingarTerminology
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own an object connected with surma?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.