Volkhovnik

Okay, so let's start with the basics. A volkhovnik is a kind of musical instrument that comes from Russia. It's pretty special because it's part of a bigger group of instruments called the hurdy-gurdy family.

Now, you might be wondering, what's a hurdy-gurdy? Well, a hurdy-gurdy is a really old instrument that's been around for a very long time. It's kind of like a guitar, but instead of plucking the strings, you turn a crank on the side of the instrument. This causes a wheel to rub against the strings, making them vibrate and produce sound.

But back to the volkhovnik. It's a hurdy-gurdy, but it's unique because it has these cool little wooden keys that you press to change the pitch. It also has extra strings that make buzzing noises, giving it a really interesting sound.

Now, if you're curious about where the name "volkhovnik" comes from, it's actually named after the Volkhov River in Russia. People there used to play this instrument a lot, so it became associated with the area.

Overall, the volkhovnik is a really neat instrument that has a lot of history and character. It's not super popular outside of Russia, but if you ever get the chance to hear or play one, I definitely recommend it!