Gaida is the Bulgarian Bagpiper

Bagpipes are a kind of musical instrument such as aerophones, it uses reeds fed from a steady tank of air in a form of a bag one of its famous kind is the Bulgarian gaida. Bulgaria is one of those several places where the use of bagpipes never went down, the possible reason for this is probably since Bulgaria is a little isolated from the fast

changing world during the 19 and 20th centuries. Gaida, or the Bulgarian bagpiper,has remained to be the national instrument in Bulgaria in the same way as Scotlands great highland pipe, although both are common in their orchestral variety.

Parts of the Gaida

Bulgarian Bagpiper

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Although the gaida is considered to be Bulgarias national instrument, it is also used all over Europe. The instrument is composed of the subsequent parts

The chanter or gaidunista is where the melody is played. It may be a conical bore such that of Bulgaria, or cylindrical bore of Macedonia and other regions. The most distinct facet of the gaidas chanter which may be also present in other Eastern European bagpipes is the mumbler popularly known as the flea hole and also called as mrammorka which where the index finger of the left hand is covering. This mumbler is smaller compared with the others and most likely consisting a small metal tube or duck or chicken feather. The flea hole is commonly played to create musical ornamentation where the exceptional Balkan music came from. Various gaidas may have a double bored chanter, like that of the Serbian three-voiced gajde.The drone or ruchilo (ruchilo, ison, prdaljka, prdak, bralo) is responsible for providing a stable harmony note. It is a long pipe with no finger holes unlike the chanter. It is mostly long, with three-piece tube with a note, but much lower compared to that of a chanter.The mouthpiece or duhalo is the blow pipe. It is a short wooden tapering in which the player blows to supply air in the bag. At the edge of this blow pipe is the leather check valve or return valve that is inside the bag. Through the blow pipe it allows the air inside the bag, but not back out.

Gaidas bag, also known as meh, is usually made of sheep or goat hide. Hides are treated unlikely by different regions. The use of salt is considered to be the simplest way of treating it and the more difficult way is with the use of milk, flour, and of course the taking away of fur. In regions of Macedonia the hide is turned inside out so the fur will be on the inside of the bag.Gaidas tone possibilities are less great than those of the caval. There are two major classes that the players use in differing. Low or the caba and high or dhuza, diffused in the mountain regions are the former. Bulgaria is popular for the so-called Rhodopian gaida, which is used for the accompaniment of the fine lyrical Rhodopian gaidars. The most used gaida is with the main tone "sol" (dzhura). It is with a loud tone possibilities in comparison to the other kind of gaida. The caval which is mentioned earlier to be with of greater tune compared to gaida is one of the most diffused musical folk instruments used a lot by the Bulgarians from so long time ago still now. It is still in function in the whole Bulgaria and especially in Thrace and Dobrudja. The technical components of the all kinds of the kaval are literally alike. The only considered difference is the size of their pipes. There are some kavals with lengths of 50, 70, 75 and 80 centimeters. In consequence of it, the kavals are with different kind of highs. The kaval's volume of the tone is concerned with the tune.

Other Bulgarian Instruments Since Bulgaria has a long tradition in folklore music, which is passed from generation to generation, it is not only gaida and cabal that are known to be famous and historical in the place but Bulgaria has a lot more to offer, and some of them are: -2-

Drum or Tapan is a huge cylindrical wooden double-head instrument with lamb orgoat on both sides with rope fastened in a zigzag pattern. The player should holdthe drum on a belt over the shoulder and using the left hand by playing with awooden thick stick with the curved in the other end of it which commonly calledkayak and in the right hand is a thin willow or cornel stick. The player beats thedrum simultaneously or one after another.

Gadulka is stringed, pear-shaped instrument with a wooden bow. It is made of

different trees such as cherry, walnut, maple, pear, and other kinds. The instrument is commonly with 3, 4, 5, 6 strings, and most of the time with 3 or 4 string with different thickness and length and these are generally made of leather or metal. The bow is made of willow wood in a defining curve shape.

Dvoyanka is a wind instrument made of wood. A whistle made of wood with rectangular elongated shape, with a mouthpiece shaped cylindrically and has two pipes that are carved parallel with each other. The exact pipe has six holes and makes the melody. The left is responsible for producing low tone since it has no holes and it accompanies the melody. This instrument is typically made of cornel tree, ash, walnut, maple, beech, cherry, pear, plum, and the most common boxwood tree. There are also troyanka instruments with only one pipe responsible for the melody, and two other accompanying pipes.

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Duduk has a round whistle and a round mouthpiece on it, a wind instrument alsomade of wood. It has a hole on the bottom side and it has six holes on the upperside. The duduk is usually made of tree, ash, walnut, maple, beech, cherry, pear,plum, and the most common boxwood tree.

Tambura is a semi pear shaped instrument also made of wood. It has 4, 6, or 8 strings. Plectrum is used by a tambura player. The tambura is usually made of tree, ash, walnut, maple, beech, cherry, pear, and plum. It sounds better if accompanied by drums or tambourines.

Taramburaka is a drum vase shaped instrument with two openings, on the upper side of it and on the bottom side. The opening at the bottom side is smaller, not covered, and the other one of it is wider, it is commonly covered with leather, that of a lamb, sheep, or a goat, or may be an artificial plastic material. The cover is stretched through the hoop. It is usually made of light metal, clay, wood, or ceramics.

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Tambourine is also called dayereh, it is a percussion instrument that consists ofwooden hoop or maybe a metal hoop. The leather or the membrane is stretchedand zills or bells or metal plates on the edges. The instrument is being held withone hand and the fingers of the other hand should strike the center of the edges and at the same it is shaken.

Octarina is a wind instrument with a mouthpiece. Commonly made of clay, but metal or wood can do. The word oca is an Italian word which means goose, because the side of the instrument resembles the head of the goose and it makes similar sounds with the goose. There are two to three holes at the bottom and eight holes in the upper side.

The aim of this new series is to successfully present the rich variety of modern and traditional folk instruments of Bulgarian music folklore especially gaida as Bulgarias national music instrument.For more information on Bulgaria please visit: www.britsinbulgaria.info

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