Pibgorn (instrument)

The pibgorn is a reed instrument from Wales. It has a single reed like that found in the drones of traditional Scottish Bagpipes, and generally six finger holes and a thumbhole giving a diatonic compass of an octave. The body of the instrument is made of wood, usually a hardwood in modern examples though historical instruments often had bodies of Elder or bone. At the mouthpiece end is a reedcap made of horn that protects the reed from contact with the players mouth. At the bell end is a distinctively carved horn bell which serves to amplify the sound.

History

The Welsh pibgorn is mentioned in the laws of Hywel Dda (codified 940–50) which specify that every master employing a pencerdd (chief musician) should give him the necessary harp, crwth and pibgorn. However the instrument is almost certainly older than that, and is part of a pattern of distribution of similar reedpipes that includes the Russian zhaleika, double reedpipes from the Arab world like the Lebanese Mijwiz, the Indian Been or Pungi and the Roman Sambuca.

It is likely that at one time the instrument existed across the British Isles (Robert Burns tried to track down surviving Scottish players) but by the early nineteenth century seemed restricted only to Anglesey. By the late nineteenth century the tradition of playing had been broken.

Revival

As part of a general revival in interest in Welsh folk music that has also seen the recreation of the Crwth, Welsh pipes, and an increase in the popularity of the Welsh Triple Harp, musicians and instrument makers have attempted to revive the tradition of Pibgorn playing.

Modern instruments play a tempered scale to fit in with other instruments (historical instruments seem to play a scale with only the fifth and the octave in tune and the other notes equally spaced, though this may have been modified by cross fingering) and are generally pitched in D. The Pibgorn has also been used as the chanter for recreated Welsh Bagpipes by John Tose and John Evans/Glenydd of Llanfihangel.

Modern instrument makers making pibgyrn include Jonathan Shorland, John Tose, John Glenydd of Llanfihangel, Keith Lewis of Pontardawe, Alan Keith of California, and Gerard KilBride of Barry. Gafin Morgan is also in the process of releasing a high quality pibgorn made from ABS plastic. He also makes wood chanters for the plastic horns.

Collections of Welsh folk tunes and hymn tunes have been scoured for melodies that fit its limited compass and a common repertoire is starting to be generated. Bands like Fernhill, Pibau Preseli, Rigantona, Carreg Lafar, Crasdant, and Moch Pryderi have popularised the instrument and some of these melodies.

External links

* [http://www.pibgyrn.com A practical guide with photos, descriptions and links on how to make an elder pibgorn by Gerard KilBride]
* [http://www.pibydd.fsnet.co.uk/pibgorn.htm John Tose maker of Pibgorn and Welsh Bagpipes]
* [http://www.fflach.co.uk/cms/ Fflach Trad, Welsh Folk music label.]
* [http://www.Mochpryderi.com/ Moch Pryderi Welsh-American Folk Band]