Musicology Annotation << Back To the terminology question: ancient Russian Bow Instruments – Smyk Alexandra V. Ustugova The article considers the current state and prospects of studying the problems of music terminology in Russian organology. In Slavic musical culture suffi ciently widespread bowed instruments. The few written sources (chronicles, administrative and spiritual literature, and glossaries) for bringing this to our time information about East Slavic tools. For modern musical science urgent problem to develop a common understanding and the elimination of ambiguities in the definition of «Smyk» and «Smychek», presented in the scientifi c literature. The lack of suffi cient historical documentaries, visual sources illustrating and locating information about Slavic stringed instruments, introduces an uncertainty in the interpretation of these terms. It is still unknown whether there was such a tool as «Smyk» or this designation refers to the full name the Bow. In this paper we attempt to analyze terminological names of Russian ancient bow instruments, shows the change in values and historical use of the term «Smyk» and close to it «Smychek» in ancient culture. The theoretical basis and methodological basis of research constitute the historical and holistic approaches to reveal the essence of musical instruments terms as the historical categories in the relationship and interdependence of social and musical-performing factors. Keywords: the problem of musical terminology, smyk, smychek, ancient Russian musical culture. Contacts: E-mail: uav80@mail.ru Pp. 21-29.