It turned out that this unusual object is an Italian musical instrument that belongs to the percussion family.
My grandfather told me that it is called “troccoli” and was used in traditional Italian folk music.
These small wooden mallets create a distinctive rhythmic sound when struck against certain surfaces. Musicians could either slide them along the ridged part of the instrument or simply tap with them, creating a unique accompaniment.
But how did this instrument end up in my grandfather’s house? The story turned out to be quite interesting and even romantic. When he was young, he traveled through Italy and one day found himself in a small village in the south of the country.
There, he met local musicians who were playing folk melodies in the town square. Captivated by their performance, he bought this instrument as a keepsake from that trip.
Since then, it had been sitting in the attic for many years until I accidentally found it. Now, I’m thinking it might be worth learning how to play it and perhaps bringing this forgotten instrument back to life. After all, every object holds a fascinating story within it, and this old Italian instrument is no exception 🎶