Zampogna chanter notes

Bagpipes (Non-Uilleann)
1

I’d like to make a large double chanter that will permit playing of some zampogna tunes on my SSPs. My understanding is that there are different zampogna chanter design traditions, and zampogna chanters also vary according to the tastes of their makers. Further, I’ve read that the tone holes on zampogna chanters are often made quite large, and the player uses wax and a wire to tune the chanter to his liking.

Is anyone familiar enough with zampogna chanters to make an educated guess about (or identify by ear) the chanter notes that would be required to play this tune or similar tunes on a large zampogna like this one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_0TIDlYTYo

2

aha so you want to MAKE a sei palmi ?!?!

Sure I can tell you the tones.
Bass (manca) chanter G,(chiave note) A, B, C, D(open)
treble (ritta) chanter-- F#, G, a, b, c, d
Drones D, & d.

This can be transposed up & down as needed.
so long as the ratios remain the same.

for ex, a 4 palmi zamp would be
Manca: D, E, F#, G, a Ritta: c#, d, e, F# G a Bordone A & a.

5 palmi, Manca A, B, C# D E Ritta G# A B C# D E bordone E,etc, etc

I would NEVERF*INGEVEReVER stick a “wire” in my zampogne…omg…thats for Uilleann players only…

yah you can stick some wax in the holes to flatten things, if absolutely necessary. The diameter of holes is certainly larger than Scots smallpipes, but not as large as some uilleann holes

yes this is only the NAPOLITANO, CILENTANO etc kind of chiave zamp…(chiave is key, btw)
& Cignitti is playing in that style,

Here: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1F661AE68B1857AC&feature=mh_lolz :smiley:

3

Very interesting, I know nowt about Italian pipes.

So if playing in D, an octave and a half in Mixolydian but no E?

Or would they play in G Major, or both?

Very interesting how similar to uilleann regs

G A B C
D F# g a
f# g a b c

D drone but C natural, no E note.

4

ChasR, thanks very much for that. That’s just the information I was looking for. I’ll post updates if I make any progress on my zampogna chanter project.

5

Very welcome ckrusor, & good luck…
Panceltic, try thinking in terms of dual pentachords & tonic/dominant exchanges rather than scales…
On a 4 palmi zamp in D, …the drones would be A & a.
The open notes on both chanters would also be a & a.
So with no hands on it is 4 pipes sounding A.

the bass chanter descending gives a, g, f,# e, D
the treble chanter descending , a, g, f#, e, d, C#…
Giving lots of stuff to do between alternating D Major & A dom7 chords :smiley: