The sopile (or roženice, as it is called in

Istria Istria ( ; Croatian language, Croatian and Slovene language, Slovene: ; ist, Eîstria; Istro-Romanian language, Istro-Romanian, Italian language, Italian and Venetian language, Venetian: ; formerly in Latin and in Ancient Greek) is the larges ...

) is an ancient traditional woodwind instrument of

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

, similar to the

oboe The oboe ( ) is a type of double reed woodwind instrument. Oboes are usually made of wood, but may also be made of synthetic materials, such as plastic, resin, or hybrid composites. The most common oboe plays in the treble or soprano range. A ...

shawm The shawm () is a Bore_(wind_instruments)#Conical_bore, conical bore, double-reed woodwind instrument made in Europe from the 12th century to the present day. It achieved its peak of popularity during the medieval and Renaissance periods, after ...

. It is used in the regions of

Kvarner The Kvarner Gulf (, or , la, Sinus Flanaticus or ), sometimes also Kvarner Bay, is a bay in the northern Adriatic Sea, located between the Istrian peninsula and the northern Croatian Littoral mainland. The bay is a part of Croatia's internal ...

Kastav Kastav (Italian: Castua) is a town in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Croatia, built on a 365 m high hill overlooking the Kvarner Gulf in the northern part of the Adriatic coast. It is in close vicinity of Rijeka, the largest port in Croatia, and t ...

Vinodol Vinodol is a Slavic toponym that may refer to: * Vinodol, Nitra, village and municipality in Slovakia *Vinodol, Croatia, municipality and valley in Croatia **Vinodol Channel Vinodol Channel ( it, Canale Meltempo or ) is a channel between the isl ...

, Island

Krk Krk (; it, Veglia; ruo, Krk; dlm, label= Vegliot Dalmatian, Vikla; la, Curicta; grc-gre, Κύρικον, Kyrikon) is a Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea, located near Rijeka in the Bay of Kvarner and part of Primorje-Gorski Kot ...

, and Istria. ''Sopile'' are always played in pairs so there are great and small or thin and fat ''sopila''. ''Sopile'' are musical instruments offering very interesting possibilities with a unique piercing sound. This is replicated in more modern examples of Kvarner music through use of modified

double reed A double reed is a type of reed used to produce sound in various wind instruments. In contrast with a single reed instrument, where the instrument is played by channeling air against one piece of cane which vibrates against the mouthpiece and c ...

clarinet The clarinet is a musical instrument in the woodwind family. The instrument has a nearly cylindrical bore and a flared bell, and uses a single reed to produce sound. Clarinets comprise a family of instruments of differing sizes and pitches ...

or soprano

Dulzaina The dulzaina () or dolçaina (/) is a Spanish double reed instrument in the oboe family. It has a conical shape and is the equivalent of the Breton bombarde. It is often replaced by an oboe or a double reeded clarinet as seen in Armenian and ...

. ''Sopile'' are, by "mih" and "šurle," and today are very popular in the folk traditions of Istria, Kvarner and Island Krk. ''Roženice'' are ancient traditional musical instruments which continue to be used today in the region of Istria. ''Roženice'' are very similar to ''sopile'' from Island Krk. ''Roženice'' are always played in pairs so there are great and small or thin and fat ''rozenica''. ''Roženice'' have a very piercing special sound, and have the possibility of producing a variety of sounds. Roženice are, by "mih" and "šurle", today very popular in folk tradition of Istra. The sopila is a wooden horn originating from

and some of the northern islands along the

Adriatic The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Sea) ...

Coast of

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

. Like oboes, sopilas have double reeds, but are always played in pairs; one larger than the other. Both have six finger holes, being equally spaced on the smaller one, and set in groups of three on the larger one. Often used to accompany dancing, the voice of the sopila is that of the

Istrian scale "Istrian scale" refers both to a "unique"Thammy Evans, Rudolf Abraham (2013). ''Istria: Croatian Peninsula, Rijeka, Slovenian Adriatic'', p.17. . musical scale of folk music genres from Istria and Kvarner which use the style.

Sources

Roženice (sopele, sopile, supiele, tororo)

Sopile

Sopile
{{Double reed Croatian musical instruments Oboes Istria

See also

Sources