Istrian bagpipe, aerophone

Strunjan, Istria, second half 20th century
The Istrian bagpipe (mih, meh), featuring a double-bore chanter, belongs to the same group of instruments as the diple but has a unique combination of tone holes and a distinct tuning. Its sound is similar to that of the gaida of south-east Europe and to the Scottish bagpipes. The instrument consists of a double-bore chanter with finger holes, a blowpipe and a bag. The bag itself is made of kidskin (or lambskin) and serves to hold the air. A stock fixed to the neck of the bag holds the chanter, which is made from a single piece of wood and has two parallel bores. The right-hand bore has five holes, while the left-hand bore has three. The top of the chanter contains two separate single reeds. The Istrian bagpipe is a characteristic element of the traditional culture of central and southern Istria.