The is a type of
bagpipe. The word means '
bagpipe' in the
Breton language
Breton (, , ; or in Morbihan) is a Southwestern Brittonic language of the Celtic languages, Celtic language group spoken in Brittany, part of modern-day France. It is the only Celtic language still widely in use on the European mainland, albei ...
.
There are two bagpipes called in
Brittany
Brittany ( ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the north-west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica in Roman Gaul. It became an Kingdom of Brittany, independent kingdom and then a Duch ...
: the traditional or ( means 'old' in Breton; means 'small') and the or ( means 'big'), which was brought into Brittany from Scotland in the late 19th century.
The oldest native bagpipe in Brittany is the , from which the is thought to be derived.
The is essentially the same as the Scottish
great Highland bagpipe; sets are manufactured by Breton makers or imported from Scotland or elsewhere.
The 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 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 chanter, for
Breton folk dancing. The is typically used as part of a band, although it is sometimes also paired with a .
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.
Further reading
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Biniou kozh
Breton musical instruments
Bagpipes