Elder (sambucus nigra)

Elder (sambucus nigra) is a bush or a small tree up to 3-7 m high, with trunk up to 50 cm in diameter. It is found in all over Europe and Asia Minor. Since the days of old the elder tree is known for its healing properties and hard, rot-resistant wood. White blossoms of the elder tree, gathered in large, umbellate inflorescences, are dried and used for infusions, while fresh blossoms are soaked in honey or even fried in pancake dough. From fruits syrups, jams and wine are made; fruit may be dried as well. Elder wood is used for making of musical instruments and to support wine grapes in vineyards. Everywhere it is found, it is or was considered a magic plant. Especially in Slavic and Germanic mythology it was treated as a link between the world of the sun/light and the world of darkness, water deities and the underworld. In Poland elder tree were planted close to the house and treated with reverence. Passing by aged tree, peasants raised their hats or bowed in greetings. Old elder tree were also places, where simple rituals of domestic magic were performed and help was sought in disease. In certain parts of Europe it was believed that sleeping under an elder tree may result in physical transfer of the sleeper's body to a distant place or to the underworld. Today we would say that elder was an important link to our subconsciousness. Customary rules guarded the elder trees - they were not to be burned, cut down or otherwise destroyed without a strict need. A stroke with a leafy elder twig was believed to protect against evil powers. Christianity treated elder with distrust and tried to associate it with the devil, Judas and negative influences. At present elder is treated as a weed and only fragments of old lore have been preserved.

There is an inner duct filled with lignin in the trunk and branches of the elder tree, which makes it easier to shape the hard wood and produce a large group of musical instruments; various woodwinds and simple reeds. There are more than ten known types of instruments made of elder wood, but the most interesting and original are the pastoral fujara (look for at : Instruments part). Another type of flute made of elder wood is Slovakian "KONCOVKA" or Polsh; hole-less pipe. This instruments has no finger -holes; playing is based on tone modulation by means of changes in the blow strength and closing of the blow hole with a finger. The choice of time and place, when and where proper elder wood for making of musical instruments may be obtained, as well as the very choice of wood for the instrument are regulated by many rules bearing traces of ancient beliefs. Ideal material for "elder family instruments" is the wood from the thunder stricken tree, one growing on volcanic subsoil or in a place where meteorite fell. Elder trees growing near water or in places, where church bells could be heard, are not suitable for a flutes. An instrument always made from a single piece of wood. Boring of a duct 3 cm in diameter in a trunk 2 meters long is not easy. In classic methods huge, hand-operated bores are used. At present the central cavity is sometimes burned or mixed techniques are used. The whole cultural complex of the elder tree is an excellent example of usefulness of ethnobotanic approach.

(Marek Styczyński / transl. Marek Koprowski)