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Single-reed instruments

Hornpipe

The hornpipe is a member of the single-reed instruments (Hornbostel–Sachs 422.211.2). Listen to 5 recordings and learn how it makes its sound.

Listen to the hornpipe

Nl-horlepiep
0:01CC BY-SA 3.0by marcel coendersWikimedia Commons
0:01
Handel Hornpipe from Water Music
0:25Public domainby HandelWikimedia Commons
0:25
Purcell TheFairyQueen FirstMusic Hornpipe Z629 Esmuc
1:00
Purcell TheFairyQueen ActIII Hornpipe Z629 Esmuc
1:33
Ruddigore (HMV, 1924) - 05. From the briny sea - I shipped d'ye see - Hornpipe
3:31Public domainby HMV/D'Oyly Carte Opera Company/Harry NorrisWikimedia Commons
3:31

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

How the hornpipe makes its sound

In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the hornpipe belongs to the single-reed instruments: a single reed beats against a mouthpiece – clarinets and saxophones.

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

Players shape its sound through technique and materials; the resonating body filters the raw vibration, boosting some harmonics and damping others.

From Wikipedia

The hornpipe can refer to a specific instrument or a class of woodwind instruments consisting of a single reed, a large diameter melody pipe with finger holes and a bell traditionally made from animal horn. Additionally, a reed cap of animal horn may be placed around the reed to contain the breath and allow circular breathing for constant play, although in many cases the reed is placed directly in the mouth. It was also known as the pibcorn, pibgorn, or piccorn. One rare Scottish example, called the stock-and-horn, is referred to by Robert Burns among others. Other hornpipes include the Spanish gaita gastoreña, the Basque alboka and the Eastern European zhaleika. When joined with a bag, Baines refers to the instruments as "bag-hornpipes".

Other single-reed instruments

Frequently asked questions

What does a hornpipe sound like?

Listen to 5 recordings on this page. As one of the single-reed instruments, its sound comes from the way a single reed beats against a mouthpiece.

What type of instrument is the hornpipe?

It is classified as single-reed instruments (Hornbostel–Sachs 422.211.2).

Sources & credits