“Tulup-zurna” (bagpipe), a wind musical instrument: chalumeau: w/single reed: set of clarinets: w/air bag

Tatars of Crimea

Taurida province, village Kapsykhor

late 19th century

Wood; leather

length total 136.0; width 32.0

РЭМ 803-99

A reed instrument with an airbag (bagpipe) became widely popular: Crimean Tatar and Greek tulup zurna, Bulgarian and Gagauz gaida, Armenian parkapzuk, Moldavian cimpoi, and Ukrainian koza. Asia Minor is believed to be the birthplace of the bagpipe, from which it found its way to Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, and later became widespread among many European nations. The local bagpipe consists of two playing pipes – a melody pipe (with finger holes) and a bourdon pipe (without finger holes) provided with a single chanter having a split n-shaped reed, and a blowpipe, sewn into a bellows of a solid sheep, goat, or calf skin. The bellows is held under the arm, inflated through the blowpipe, and pressed with the elbow to pump air into the playing pipes. The bagpipe sound is shrill and piercing. The instrument was played at many feasts and rites. As the Bulgarian saying goes, “You can tell a wedding by the sounds of gaida.”