The ''Binioù'' is a type of bagpipe. The word "Biniou" means bagpipe in the

Breton language Breton (, ; or in Morbihan) is a Southwestern Brittonic language of the Celtic language family spoken in Brittany, part of modern-day France. It is the only Celtic language still widely in use on the European mainland, albeit as a member of t ...

. There are two bagpipes called ''binioù'' in

Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, Historical region, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known ...

: the traditional ''binioù kozh'' or ''biniou-bihan'' (''kozh'' means "old" in Breton, ''bihan'' means "small") and the ''binioù bras'' (''bras'' means "big"), which was brought into Brittany from Scotland in the late 19th century. The oldest native bagpipe in Brittany is the

veuze The ''veuze'' is a Breton bagpipe found traditionally in southeastern Brittany and in the northern part of the Vendée, particularly around Nantes, the Guérande peninsula, and Basse-Vilaine. The veuze has been mentioned in writing dating to the ...

, from which the binioù kozh is thought to be derived. The ''binioù bras'' is essentially the same as the Scottish

Great Highland Bagpipe The Great Highland bagpipe ( gd, a' phìob mhòr "the great pipe") is a type of bagpipe native to Scotland, and the Scottish analogue to the Great Irish Warpipes. It has acquired widespread recognition through its usage in the British milit ...

; sets are manufactured by Breton makers or imported from Scotland or elsewhere. The ''binioù kozh'' has a one octave scale, and is very high-pitched with a soprano sound; it is tuned to play one octave higher than the

bombard __NOTOC__ Bombard may refer to the act of carrying out a bombardment. It may also refer to: Individuals *Alain Bombard (1924–2005), French biologist, physician and politician; known for crossing the Atlantic on a small boat with no water or food ...

which it accompanies. More traditional forms have a single drone, while modern instruments sometimes have two. In the old days the leather used for the bag was usually from a dog's skin, but this is nowadays replaced by synthetic materials or other leathers which are easier to procure, like cow or sheep. Traditionally it is played in duet with the ''

'', a double reed instrument which sounds an octave below the ''binioù'' chanter, for

Breton Breton most often refers to: *anything associated with Brittany, and generally ** Breton people ** Breton language, a Southwestern Brittonic Celtic language of the Indo-European language family, spoken in Brittany ** Breton (horse), a breed **Ga ...

folk dancing. The ''binioù bras'' is typically used as part of a bagad band, although it is sometimes also paired with a bombard.

Films

*''Of Pipers and Wrens'' (1997). Produced and directed by Gei Zantzinger, in collaboration with Dastum. Lois V. Kuter, ethnomusicological consultant. Devault, Pennsylvania: Constant Spring Productions.

Films

Further reading