The gaida (also spelled "gajda") is a bagpipe from South Eastern Europe (The Balkans). It is played throughout Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, and Greece primarily. Cousins of this instrument are found throughout the Balkans in Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Romania, Serbia, and Turkey. A bagpipe performer in Amsterdam. ... The Balkans is the historic and geographic name used to describe southeastern Europe (see the Definitions and boundaries section below). ... The Balkans is the historic and geographic name used to describe southeastern Europe (see the Definitions and boundaries section below). ... For an explanation of terms related to Macedonia, see Macedonia (terminology). ...

Instrument parts

Bag

This consists of a bag made out of goat or sheep hide that is airtight. Different regions have different ways of treating the skin. The simplest methods involve just the use of salt, while more complex treatments involve milk, flour, and the removal of hair. The bag is the reservoir that supplies the pipes with air. When this bag is squeezed under the player's arm, air is forced through the reeds of the pipes, creating sound. The stocks into which the chanters and blowpipe and drone fit are called "glavini" (главини) in Bulgarian. These can be made out of Cornel wood (дрян) or animal horn.

Blow pipe

This is a short, conical wooden or bone tube in which the player blows to refill the bag. At the end of the blow pipe that is within the bag, there is a small valve of leather or felt that allows air into the bag via the blow pipe but not back out.

An elderly Greek gentleman playing the Greek gaida

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (751x1165, 92 KB) Summary The Greek gaida is similar to other bagpipes found in Balkan countries. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (751x1165, 92 KB) Summary The Greek gaida is similar to other bagpipes found in Balkan countries. ...

Chanters

These are the pipes that play the melody.

Reeds (lemellas)

Each chanter is fitted with a reed made from reed (arundo donax), bamboo, or elder. The reed is fitted into the end of the chanter that goes into the bag. The reed itself is a round tube plugged at one end with cork, wax or the natural walls of the reed. The other end is open and a tongue is cut that vibrates when air is passed through. The end of the reed is wrapped in string to create an airtight seal when inserted into the chanter. The length of the reed that protrudes from the chanter determines the chanter's tuning, and can be adjusted by sliding it in or out. The wrapping is traditionally lubricated with suet, although the same cork grease used for clarinets also works fine. If the reeds don't sound properly, the notch cut in the open end of the reed can be tightened closer to the tube part of the reed, using a rubber band to create a narrower gap. Reed can refer to: // [edit] People Alfred Reed, American composer Alfred Hamish Reed, New Zealand author and publisher Andre Reed, American football player for the Buffalo Bills Carol Reed, British film director David P. Reed, telecommunications expert, creator of Reeds law Davin Reed, American botanist Donna Reed, American actress... Reed can refer to: // [edit] People Alfred Reed, American composer Alfred Hamish Reed, New Zealand author and publisher Andre Reed, American football player for the Buffalo Bills Carol Reed, British film director David P. Reed, telecommunications expert, creator of Reeds law Davin Reed, American botanist Donna Reed, American actress... Binomial name Arundo donax L. Arundo donax L. (Giant Reed) is a tall perennial reed, native to fresh waters in the Mediterranean region. ... This article is about the plant. ... Species See text Elder or Elderberry (Sambucus) is a genus of between 5-30 species of fast-growing shrubs or small trees (two species herbaceous), formerly treated in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae, but now shown by genetic evidence to be correctly classified in the moschatel family Adoxaceae. ... Suet is raw beef or mutton fat, especially that found around the loins and kidneys. ... Two soprano clarinets: a Bâ™­ clarinet (left) and an A clarinet (right, with no mouthpiece). ...

Melody chanter (gaidunitza)

This is a smaller tube (chanter) with a conical bore (in Bulgaria), cylindrical bore (in Macedonia and other regions), made from boxwood (shimshir) cornel wood, plum wood or other fruit wood. It has 8 holes in it: the top four are covered by the thumb and first three fingers of the left hand, then the four fingers of the right hand cover the remaining four holes. An important feature of the gaida's chanter (which it shares with a number of other Eastern European bagpipes) is the "flea-hole" (also known as a mumbler or voicer) which is covered by the index finger of the left hand. The flea-hole is smaller than the rest and usually consists of a small tube that is made out of metal or a chicken or duck feather. Uncovering the flea-hole raises any note played by a half step, and it is used in creating the musical ornamentation that gives Balkan music its unique character. It has been suggested that Practice chanter be merged into this article or section. ... The bore of a wind instrument is the interior chamber in which air is set into vibration to produce musical sounds. ... In music, ornaments are musical flourishes that are not necessary to the overall melodic (or harmonic) line, but serve to decorate or ornament that line. ... The music of Southeastern Europe, sometimes characterised by complex rhythm, is a type of music distinct from others in Europe. ...

Drone

This pipe is a long, three-piece tube. It has no fingerholes, unlike the melody chanter, since it only plays one note, a "drone". This note is normally lower than those played by the melody chanter (because it is longer and its reed is twice as big). Drone can refer to many things: // In eusocial insects, a male bee, ant or wasp. ...

Related instruments

The gaida has many cousins, some of which can be found here. Some of these related instruments are: // Great Highland Bagpipe: perhaps the most well-known bagpipe. ...

• Bock (Czech)
• Cimpoi (Romanian)
• Duda (Hungarian/Polish)
• Koza (Polish)
• Diple (Dalmatian Coast)
• Tulum (Turkish and Pontic)
• Tsambouna (Dodecanese Island Chain)
• Askambandoura (Crete)
• Gajdy (Polish/Czech/Slovak)
• Gaita (Galician)
• Surle (Serbian/Croatian)
• Mezoued/Zukra (Northern Africa)

Paulaner Salvator Bock is a strong lager, which has origins dating back to Munich, Germany. ... Cimpoi, the Romanian bagpipe, has a single drone and straight bore chanter and is less stringent than its Balkan relatives. ... Drawing of a Duda. ... Koza can refer to John Koza – computer scientist and genetic programming pioneer Koza, Wakayama – town located in the Higashimuro District in Japan Koza District, Kanagawa – a district located in Kanagawa, Japan Chris Koza in Minnesota, local musician. ... Diple, dvojnice or dvojanke (pluralia tantum) are a traditional woodwind musical instrument in Serbian music and Croatian music. ... Dalmatia (Croatian Dalmacija, Italian Dalmazia, Serbian Далмација) is a region of Croatia on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, spreading between the island of Pag in the northwest and the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. ... The Tulum is a musical instrument, a form of bagpipe from Turkey. ... Galicia (Spain) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...