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The Italian bagpipe (zampogna) is a polycalamo sack erophone, with single or double reeds, with two chanters for the melody and up to three drones.
In Latin it was called "utricularium" and the Roman emperor Nero was one of the players of antiquity. From the Middle Ages to the modern age it diversified into various territorial typologies, including the Scottish and Irish bagpipes, with indirect insufflation (introduction of air into a cavity, a skin bag in the specific case), like the French musette, the piva. Its social function is to mark the salient moments of the agricultural year, according to the archaic seasonal calendar. It is generally protected from the evil eye with various amulets, such as ribbons, red bows and croissants having an apotropaic meaning. His repertoire consists of tarantellas, pastorals and singing accompaniment.

 



The zampogna is a sack aerophone equipped with 3 to 5 chanters which are inserted into a stock where the skin is tied. Only 2 chanters are singing instruments while the others act as drone (they play a fixed note). The chanters end with reeds that can be single or double, traditionally made in arundo donax cane (recently also in plastic, to better withstand changes in temperature and humidity).
The air storage bag (skin bag) is made with an entire goat or sheep skin (utricle) or synthetic material (waterproof fabrics or even rubber), into which the player introduces air through an insufflator (tube or bellows). . The air sets the reeds inserted into vibration on the two melodic chanters, the right one for the melody, the left one for the accompaniment, and on the drones. It is not infrequently possible to meet "left-handed" players who reverse the position of the chanters of the melody.
There is an enormous variety in the type of instrument, which often changes according to the region or even the province (and differs organologically and in sound timbre) and in the size of the instrument (differentiating in tonality). While in southern Italy the unit of measurement used to indicate the length of the bagpipe is the "palmo", in central Italy the measure (and therefore the tonality) of the instrument is indicated, in a somewhat unusual way, with the number (for example eg 25) corresponding to the length in centimeters of the spindle of the corresponding shawm.

Text taken from https://www.carlomassarelli.com/it/strumenti/13-zampogna.html

 

All the bagpipes of the South Italy are characterized by two melodic chanters and one, two or even more drones. All drones play the donimante. In some models also have the toned drone.
Modern bagpipes allow greater extensions than traditional models, thanks to the addition of keys and additional holes.
The "zampognè" sample library emulates these modern features and is meant to be used with a dedicated midi controller, currently being implementation.
There are three models principal of the bagpipes of Southern Italy.

type of bagpipes

zampogna with key

One or two drones tuned in dominant and an octave apart.
The bass chanter is much longer than all the others.
The treble and bass chanter are tuned an octave apart.
The treble chanter produces the notes: F#2 - G2 - A2 - B1 - C3 - D3.
The bass chanter produces the notes: G1 - A1 - B1 - C2 - D2.
drone a: D2
drone b: D3

zampogna with key bass

There are also large models of the keyed bagpipe used for accompaniment. Its characteristic, in addition to the enormous size, is also the very deep and powerful timbre of the sound, as well as a bass of at least an octave compared to the traditional version.
However, the setting of the notes on the chanters is similar between the bagpipes with the key of small and large.

zampogna "zoppa"

Similar to the keyed bagpipe, but smaller in size and without the clef placed on the bass chanter.
The treble and bass chanter are tuned an octave apart.
The treble chanter produces the notes: F#2 - G2 - A2 - B1 - C3 - D3.
The bass chanter produces the notes: G1 - A1 - B1 - C2 - D2.
drone a: D2
drone b: D3

zampogna "a paro"

Two drones tuned in dominant and at an octave apart.
There may be another drone tuned to the tonic.
All chanters have the same length.
The singing chanter produces the notes: F#2 - G2 - A2 - B1 - C3 - D3.
The bass chanter produces the notes: D2 - E2 - F#2 - G2 - A2.
drone a: D2
drone b: D3

zampogna "surdulina"

Two drones tuned in dominant and at an octave apart.
All chanters have the same length.
The singing chanter produces the notes: G2 - A2 - B1 - C3 - D3.
The bass chanter produces the notes: G2 (mute) - E2 - F#2 - G2 - A2.
drone a: D2
drone b: D3

    The "zampognè" sample library is the first virtual instrument entirely dedicated to the bagpipe in Italy, the only instrument of its kind to be used both as an accompaniment and as a soloist.
    To create the sample library, eight different types of bagpipes were recorded, by tonality, size, geographical area, construction workmanship, sound, timbre and expressive capabilities. The sound samples were then suitably treated by sound synthesis for the reduction of the wave into wavetables and then into audio files that can be replicated in a loop. This work has made it possible to professionally emulate bagpipes. In the future version, in fact, samples are processed using the multilayering technique and mixing between similar sound sources.

e-zampognè

The zampognè sample library is the first step towards the creation and re-production of a midi concert bagpipe, initially created by Carlo Massarelli with the name e-ZAMPOGNË.

  • Possibility to choose between 5 types of bagpipes in original tuning
  • Possibility to change the intonation of each bagpipe
  • Mapping mode traditional, major scale, minor scale, chromatic
  • Independent management of the sfx (breathing and blowing of the bag) with independent volume adjustment
  • Realistic and independent management of the humanization of the instrument, with control of the tuning tightness, microtonal variation of the sound due to the air pressure

mapping mode

  • An articulated keyborad mapping system allows you to get the most out of the performance, expanding the potential of the instrument beyond its physical and structural limits.
  • Up to 5 drone notes
  • Over 1 full octave range on bass and treble chanter
  • Automatic re-mapping of traditional major scale - modern major/minor/chromatic
  • Simultaneous stop of the instrument with red keyswitch
  • Independent legato up/down controls on chanter bass and treble with sky blue keyswitch
  • Shut-off hole of the bass chanter on the "surdulina" bagpipe

technical features

Requires Steinberg HALion 6.3.0, HALion Sonic 3, HALion Sonic SE


Sample library completelycustomizable
752 files
4 bagpipes with key 2 palms
½, 5 bagpipes with key 6 palms,
5 bagpipes "zoppa" model,
5 “surdulina” model bagpipes
4 kayak mappings (traditional, major, minor, chromatic)
3 performance modes
humanization control and system for regulating the air circulation in the chanters
complete management e independent of sfx (air in the skin)
control of hi-drones
2 professional effects by
sound equalization: reverb, delay​​ independent management of
volume of chanters and sfx

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