Although more elaborate than the Hornbostel-Sachs classification, the classification proposed by Geneviève Dournon is still very simplified. Indeed, the instrument is complex and presents many varieties from one region to another. It is therefore difficult to contain them in such a reduced number of sub-levels if one wishes to take into account the particularities of each. This classification again implies that the bagpipes must be polyphone with the use of the plural from the description of the instrument: “with beating reeds”. For the best tartan tie for bagpipers you can have the best deals now.
Indeed, although rare, a bagpipe can be monadic
In addition, the distinction is not made between instruments with single or double reeds. In a work such as Geneviève Dournon’s guide, this lack of precision is not necessarily annoying because it involves being able to associate a standard instrument with a fairly precise category without going into too much detail. Indeed, the aim of this classification published at UNESCO is to “[provide] the neophyte with an essential organological basis, to recognize, identify and classify musical instruments”.
- Finally, Jean-Pierre Van Hees’ classification, specifically designed for the bagpipes, is the most complete to date. Published in 2014 in his book The bagpipe, a sound world, the established categories can be added to classification number 412.4 of Dournon’s taxonomy. Van Hees chooses to classify bagpipes into three categories according to the type of reed: bagpipes with single reed, hybrid bagpipes (with single and double reeds) and bagpipes with double reed. We can see that this categorization also cuts across various geographic areas: bagpipes with simple reeds are found mainly in eastern Europe, hybrid bagpipes are in western Europe, and reed bagpipes doubles are found in Italy and historically in France.
Before going on to three concrete examples in each category, let’s take a closer look at the different components of a bagpipe.
A complex instrument
The bagpipe brings together in one instrument several materials of animal or vegetable origin, even synthetic today. Here is an overview of the different parts of the bagpipes with details on the invoice and materials. With the cheap ukulele for sale online you can have the best deals.
The bag
The bagpipe bag is the necessary element to successfully produce a continuous sound. This essential part is often made from animal skin. Many pockets are made from kid skins. The tanning process changes according to the regions according to the skills but also according to the rarity of the skin. In Croatia, for example, some goat skins are tanned for a long time so that the skin becomes elastic and translucent, losing all of its hair. These skins last for many years unlike the goatskins used by the Bulgarian or Greek postmen, for example, who have more animals at their disposal and tan the hides with a solution based on water and salt, without forgetting a transition to lime. Although the latter turn the skin over, thus leaving the hairs generally cut fairly short inside the pocket, this does not prevent the bag from degrading more quickly due to changes in humidity or the possible risk of infestation. insects inside the pores left by the hairs. In order to counteract this humidity, Bulgarians often store their instruments in a plastic bag in order to retain a certain level of humidity after the game so that the skin does not dry out. If the bag dried, it would become dry like paper and it would make it brittle, therefore fragile.
