3.- Summary of the galician bagpipe

From some time during the second half of the thirteenth century, we have clear evidence of the bagpipes being used in the north-west of the Iberian peninsular. The first examples that we have of the pipes, show an instrument without "roncon", being formed by the bag, the "punteiro", and the blow pipe. This then, would be the concept of the pipes in their original form, (with small variations). As you can see in the above picture. During the second half of the 13th and 14th centuries, the pipes

appeared both with and without bass stops. However use of the bass stops, was consolidated over the centuries in a definative form: Inicially in a trumpet form, and later in a "cup" form.

Although the typical pipes of the north-west Iberian peninsula only had one bass stop, there were some that had a second bass stop next to the principal. Some pipers from the second half of the 19th century, used a "chillon", to support to "punteiro". During the 20th century, the "ronqueta" appeared in the front part of the instrument, of a reduced size to the second bass stop, of which type appeared in earlier versions of the pipes.





Now we have different versions of the instrument:

Traditional common Pipes. Made up of the bag "punteiro" "ronco" and blow pipe

Pipes with "Ronqueta".Which uses a small frontal "ronqueta".

Pipes with "ronqueta" and "chillon". With a small frontal "chillon".

Band or millitary pipes. Including "ronco" or lower bass stop, tenor bass stop, and high bass stop, on the shoulder of the piper, maintaining the rest of the elements like the traditional common pipes.



Partes da Gaita:
1.Punteiro
2.Fol
3.Ronco ou Roncón
a)Copa
b)Segunda
c)Prima
4. Ronqueta
5. Chillón, Chión ou Pión
6. Soprete
7. Farrapos
8. Desaugue (en foles de goma)
9. Buxa do Punteiro
10. Borlas