How the putipù makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the putipù belongs to the friction drums: a membrane is made to vibrate by rubbing a stick, cord or the hand – like the Brazilian cuíca.
More broadly it is one of the membranophones (drums), where sound comes from a vibrating stretched membrane.
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 putipù is a musical instrument traditionally used in folk music of Southern Italy, in particular of Naples and surrounding regions. It is a friction drum, consisting of a cylindrical sound box closed at the top by a stretched membrane, with a bamboo cane attached at the center. The instrument is played by rubbing the rod with a wet hand, cloth, or sponge, that causes the membrane to vibrate.
The putipu exists in several variants, differing on the materials and dimensions. Other common names are caccavella, puti-puti, pignato, cute-cute, cupellone, bufù (in Molise) and cupa-cupa (especially in Apulia). Some of these names are onomatopoeias of the sound. The instrument is also called pernacchiatore (literally "raspberry blower") on account of its sound.
Other friction drums
Frequently asked questions
What does a putipù sound like?
As one of the friction drums, its sound comes from the way a membrane is made to vibrate by rubbing a stick, cord or the hand.
What type of instrument is the putipù?
It is classified as friction drums (Hornbostel–Sachs 23).
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q3926020 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Putipù – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by User:Jeffmatt – CC BY-SA 3.0