Medieval Music, Bladder Pipe

The bladder pipe is a very distinctive loud instrument which has a reed which is enclosed by an animal bladder. The player blows into the bladder through its mouthpiece, a wooden pipe.

Like the bag of a bagpipe, the bladder serves as a wind reservoir keeping the lips from touching the reed directly. The bladder pipe's sound is unusual because the player is unable to tongue or otherwise control the reed. This medieval instrument was one of the principal early wind cap instruments and is considered the forerunner to the crumhorn.

 

 

 

 

 

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