The çifteli is one of the oldest instruments in the region. Its body is traditionally carved from a single piece of wood - often mulberry or walnut - and the strings were originally made from gut, though most players now use modern strings. Each instrument is handmade, which means no two çifteli are exactly alike.
The lower of the two strings stays on one steady note (called a drone) while the player uses the upper string to play the melody. This gives çifteli music a distinctive buzzing, hypnotic quality that sounds unlike most Western instruments. The drone string never changes, creating a constant hum that supports everything the melody does above it.
Traditionally, the çifteli was played by rhapsodes - musicians and storytellers called lahutarë - who would accompany their epic poems and tales with its sound. These storytellers would perform long, dramatic songs about heroes, mountains and adventure, sometimes performing for hours at a time.
Today the çifteli is still played at festivals, family celebrations and music events across Kosovo. Young musicians are learning the instrument, and you can find videos online of both traditional players and modern artists who mix çifteli sounds with contemporary music. The instrument is considered a key part of Kosovo's cultural identity.