Articles

Swedish Bagpipes excerpts from John Creager A Short History of the Bagpipe   The Bagpipe is an instrument with a strong and ancient tradtion in Sweden is certainly not common knowledge. Scotland and Ireland are the countries most strongly associated with bagpipes. In fact, the bagpipe is much more widespread than this. In different variations, it is found in large areas of Europe, Asia and North Africa. It is, quite simply, one of the world's more common folk instruments. The instrument's earliest history is in Asia, where it may have been played as a sort of primitive accompaniment, with a...

A Tour Of Bagpipeland by Denny Hall   As it has been many years since I wrote this article it is way past the time to update, amend and correct. But I did it anyway. The original article did not include the mention of the now popular Scottish Smallpipes. At that time I had seen a couple of old sets but I don't believe they were in modern production. I've since built over fifty sets of the Scots smallpipes so I am aware of them. Some changes in terminology and pitch information follow: Let's say you're at the local shopping...

The Gadulka by David Brown   Bulgarian folk musicians have their own unique bowed instrument, the gadulka. Pear-shaped and unmistakeably a descendant of the medieval rebec, itself based on bowed instruments of the oriental countries, particularly Moorish Spain and the Byzantine Empire, the gadulka is an ancient fiddle which has been modified this century by the addition of sympathetic strings which add another rich element to the sound.   The gadulka has three main playing strings, like many similar Eastern and Southern European fiddles such as the older Greek Lyra, the Turkish kemene, the Polish and Czech folk fiddles, etc....

THE PIPE AND TABOR An Address to a Society of Morris Dancers, Oxford, February 12, 1914 by Sir Francis Darwin (Son of Sir Charles Darwin) Rediscovered By Chris Brady In the following pages I have brought together some scattered information on the instruments, especially connected with Folk-Dancing, which give the title to my address. The coming to life of a mass of beautiful tunes and dances, in response to the patient search of Mr. Cecil Sharp and a few others, is one of the most magical occurrences of which I have any memory. In a lesser degree I have experienced...

Bulgarian Folk Instruments by Hector Bezanis   The Gaida (bagpipe) is one of the most characteristic folk instruments of Bulgaria. It is said that a traditional wedding is incomplete without its presence. Traditionally the solitary shepherd's companion, it is often heard solo or accompanied by a large drum. It is also popular in small village orchestras. Like all Bulgarian folk instruments there are many regional variations with distinctive styles of detail and ornament. All share a common form: white kidskin bag, blowpipe, drone and chanter. The pipes of the eastern regions of Thrace and Dobrudja are usually high-pitched, while those...