Launeddas

The launeddas (also called Sardinian triple clarinet) are a traditional Sardinian woodwind instrument made of three pipes, each of which has an idioglot single reed. They are a polyphonic instrument, with one of the pipes functioning as a drone and the other two playing the melody in thirds and sixths.

Predecessors of the launeddas are found throughout Northern Africa and the Middle East. In 2700 BCE, the Egyptian reed pipes were originally called " memet"; during the Old Kingdom of Egypt (2778–2723 BCE), memets were depicted on the reliefs of seven tombs at Saqqara, six tombs at Giza, and the pyramids of Queen Khentkaus.

The Sardinian launeddas themselves are an ancient instrument, being traced back to at least the eighth century BCE,Surian, Alesso. "Tenores and Tarantellas". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), ''World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East'', pg. 189–201. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. . Surian calls the launeddas ''very ancient, appearing on votive statues from the 8th century BC.'' as is testified during the Nuragic civilization by an ithyphallic bronze statuette found in Ittiri. The launeddas are still played today during religious ceremonies and dances (''su ballu'' in Sardinian language).Surian, pg. 190 Distinctively, they are played using extensive variations on a few melodic phrases, and a single piece can last over an hour, producing some of the "most elemental and resonant (sounds) in European music".

File:Launeddas llengüeta.JPG, Closeup of the reeds of the launeddas
File:Launeddas.JPG, Laundedas separated for the left and right hands
File:Launeddas3.jpg, A variety of launeddas
File:Launeddas Player.jpg, A Sardinian man in traditional clothing playing the launeddas
File:Civilt%C3%A0_nuragica,_prima_et%C3%A0_del_ferro,_suonatore_di_launeddas_itifallico,_da_ittiri.jpg, Ancient launeddas player from Ittiri

Description

Launeddas are used to play a complex style of music by circular breathing that has achieved some international attention, especially Efisio Melis, Antonio Lara, Dionigi Burranca, and Luigi Lai. Melis and Lara were the biggest stars of the 1930s golden age of launeddas, and each taught their style to apprentices such as Lara's Aureliu Porcu."Franco Melis". Musical Traditions Internet Magazine. URL accessed on 26 August 2005.

Launeddas consist of three reed pipes, two five-holed chanters of different lengths and one drone. They are played using circular breathing.

See also

* Triple pipes

References

Further reading

* F. W. Bentzon, ''The Launeddas. A Sardinian folk music instrument (2 voll. Acta Musicologica Danica n°1)'', Akademisk Forlag, Copenhagen, 1969.
* P. Mercurio, ''La Cultura delle Launeddas. Cabras. I Suoni del Maestro Giovanni Casu'', Solinas, Nuoro, 2011.
* F. W. Bentzon, ''Launeddas'', Cagliari, 2002. .
* F. W. Bentzon, ''Launeddas, et sardisk folkemusikinstrument'', Dansk Musik-tidsskrift, Copenhagen, May, 1961, No. 3, pp. 97–105.
* Bernard Lortat-Jacob (1982). "Theory and 'Bricolage': Attilio Cannargiu's Temperament", '' Yearbook for Traditional Music'', Vol. 14, pp. 45–54.
* P. Mercurio, ''Launeddas Patrimonio dell'Umanità. Strumento dell'Identità Musicale Sarda'', collana "Ethnomusica & Istruzione", Milano, 2015. .
* Efisio Melis and Antonio Lara – ''Launeddas'' (2001), cited in Robert Andrews (2007). ''The Rough Guide to Sardinia'', p. 335. 3rd edition. .

Listening

Launeddas player Luigi Lai

External links

Sonus de Canna
information on history, characteristics, construction details, partially in Italian

Triplepipe.net
information on history, pictures, and MP3 samples

All about launeddas and sardinian music

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Sardinian musical instruments
Single-reed instruments
Early musical instruments
Italian musical instruments
Circular breathing