How the piva makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the piva 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.
Players shape its sound through technique and materials; the resonating body filters the raw vibration, boosting some harmonics and damping others.
From Wikipedia
The piva is a type of bagpipe played in Italy and in Ticino, the Italian-speaking Canton of Switzerland. The instrument has a single chanter and single drone. A different instrument with the same name is also known in Istria region of Croatia.
Illustrations and scriptural evidences tend to suggest that a similar instrument was also used in Veneto.
Other double-reed instruments
Frequently asked questions
What does a piva sound like?
As one of the double-reed instruments, its sound comes from the way two reeds beat against each other.
What type of instrument is the piva?
It is classified as double-reed instruments (Hornbostel–Sachs 422.12).
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q3905918 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Piva (bagpipe) – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by TCI Cartographic Office – CC BY-SA 4.0