French Bagpipes

~ The world of Bagpipes ~
An internet site by Oliver Seeler

Page 2 of 30 illustrating the pipelines heard on Bagpipes worldwide

To learn more about the record album click on the cover at left

GRANDE CORNEMUSE
France ~ Bourbonnais conical-bore chanter, double-blade reed; two cylindrical-bore drones, single-blade reeds
General Comments:
Possibly the many classical of the various French bagpipes, the Cornemuse is found in quite a number of varieties, which differ mostly inside their dimensions and thus pitch. Additionally it is present in many parts of France apart from Bourbonnais. Once a really powerful tool, modern-day examples are often made to play lightly - this responding, apparently, to interior usage, and employ associated with the pipe in modern-day folk-music groups.

By the way, there is a particular linguistic issue because "cornemuse" has come to be utilized in French to denote any type of bagpipe. Long arguments with a flavor of which-came-first-the-chicken-or-the-egg can revolve for this, however right here.

Musical Records:
In the CD, this Cornemuse is combined with another ancient tool - the Vielle a Roue, or Wheel Fiddle (in addition often called a "Hurdy-Gurdy, " although that term normally placed on the type of transportable organ managed by monkeys). The Vielle ended up being one of the primary tools to offer bagpipes serious competitors as a solo tool with the capacity of supplying effective songs for big gatherings.

The scales and crucial signatures offered may be seen as approximations; bagpipes may deviate from old-fashioned criteria in absolute and general pitch.

Remaining, The French Cornemuse becoming played by Sean Folsom; right, Arrigo D'Albert accompanying in the French Vielle a Roue (also called "Wheel Fiddle" and "Hurdy-Gurdy"). Both tools were played together for centuries.

Detail showing the chanter and smaller drone emerging from a common stock.

This configuration is certainly not unusual among continental European bagpipes and certainly will be seen in lots of old artwork.

Top to bottom, bass drone & single-blade reed, tenor drone & single-blade reed, chanter and double-blade reed.

Photographs & Text Copyright 1999 - 2002, Oliver Seeler,