OT - Translaton of Russian into English needed

[N Grossingink]

If someone could translate the following phrase, I'd appreciate it.

N.

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[Peter Thomsen]

Is this from a timpani part?
Are the last russian letter(s) missing from the scanning?

I think it means something like “hit on the timpano with the united shafts”.
Would that translation make any sense in the context?

If I am completely wrong, then I apologize - my first language is Danish (=> neither English nor Russian).

*** = to hit, to beat

*** = shafts

*** = united

по = on

*** = timpano

[motet]

Hit the drum with both mallets?

[N Grossingink]

Thanks, Peter. Your research has clarified what this directive says. It's from the score of the Shostakovich String Quartet #13. It appears the correct translation is "tap the belly of the instrument with the wood of the bow", so you weren't far off. I wanted to have this clarified because some performers tap the music stand with the bow, and I guess some don't tap anything at all.

Here is a recording with the score so you can see and hear in context. This passage has been referred to by the violist of the Emerson String Quartet as "a jam session from hell". The overall somberness of the work and this passage's walking bass on the cello and little riffs on the other instruments do give it a jazz feel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X6rGEf ... be&t=7m01s

Thanks again,
N.