Dulzaina

The dulzaina is a member of the double-reed instruments (Hornbostel–Sachs 422.113). Listen to 1 recording and learn how it makes its sound.

Listen to the dulzaina

Xavi Richart - Muixeranga (low quality)

2:36CC BY 2.0by Xavier RichartWikimedia Commons

2:36

Tip: press play to see the sound's live frequency spectrum in blue over the waveform.

How the dulzaina makes its sound

In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the dulzaina belongs to the double-reed instruments: two reeds beat against each other – oboes, bassoons, shawms and the duduk.

More broadly it is one of the aerophones (wind instruments), where sound comes from vibrating air.

Its timbre – the colour that lets you tell it apart from other instruments playing the same note – comes from the mix of overtones its body and resonator emphasise.

From Wikipedia

The dulzaina is a Spanish double reed instrument in the oboe family. It has a conical shape and is the equivalent of the Breton bombarde. It is often replaced by an oboe or a double reeded clarinet as seen in Armenian and Ukrainian folk music.

Many varieties of the dulzaina exist in Spain. In the Valencian Community, it is known as a dolçaina or xirimita and is accompanied by a drum called the tabalet. The Catalan variety of the dulzaina is called a gralla, and the Basque variety is called a bolin-gozo.