Bagpipes are an ancient folk instrument,confusing used in the form of historically known already in antique Greece. They were originally a simple woodwind instrument, which probably back dates 4000 years ago in Egypt and in Asia.

Bagpipes have many forms and many modification and many national titels. As Western classical music developed, both in terms of musical sophistication and instrumental technology, bagpipes in many regions fell lost popularity due to their limited range and function.

Most bagpipes also have additional drones (and sometimes chanters) in various combinations, held in place by stock - connectors that fasten the various pipes to the bag. The function tool is based on pumping air through the bellows positioneted in the musiciansarmpit musician over a slice (slices) to the pipe with holes. The motio slice (s) that creates the sound and tone is formed by closing whiste holes whith fingers, just as with the flute (so they work as Czech bagpipes). Most are tuned in Es Dur.

The priciple sound of Scottisch bagpipes is different, where the air come bellows the mouth. The sound bleat. Bagpipes play only eight tones, this characteristic gives the monotone music. But bagpipes have still many fans.

The most famous Czech bagpipes are from Strakonice, western part of Czech Republic “Chodsko”. In the Czech Republic there are some famous folkore bagpipe corps. The bagpipers centre where the famous Intern International Bagpipe Festival in Strakonice - Strakonice has become ational bagpipe festivals take place every second year since 1967.

FESTIVAL IN STRAKONICE

The Bagpiper of Strakonice Drama The Bagpiper of Strakonice is written by Josef Kajetán Tyl. Josef Kajetán Tyl (4th February 1808 – 11th July 1856) was a significant Czech dramatist, writer and actor. He was a notable figure of the Czech National Revival movement and he is mainly known as the author of the current national anthem of the Czech Republic titled „Kde domov můj“.

JOSEF KAJETÁN TYL

The Bagpiper of Strakonice is one of his most famous works. The premiere was 21st November 1847 at the Royal Estates Theatre in Prague. The Bagpiper of Strakonice was met with enthusiasm of spectators in its first introduction. This "national tale in three acts" is one of a dramatic fairy tale..

Royal Estates Theatre

The story of play comes from popular tradition. Tyl was inspired by pipers who played in south Bohemia and abroad. They were invited by aristocrats to their residences, they were reporters and historiographers. Pipers were a symbol of Bohemian culture.

Piper Švanda wants to marry Dorotka Trnková. He is poor, that´s the reason, why Dorotka's father doesn´t like him. Švanda wants to earn money for the wedding as a musician. He can play the bagpipes. His friend warned him not to do it. Švanda´s mother, fairy Rosava, wants to help her son. She bewitchs his bagpipes. Švanda is very successful suddenly. King invites him to the royal palaces to heal the sad princess Zulika. His secretary becomes astute Vocilka, who wants to exploit his skills and enrich himself. Finally, Dorotka and his friend help him.

Bagpipes, Piper became a symbol of Czech national revival. Czech National Revival was a cultural movement, which took part in the Czech lands during the 18th and 19th century. The purpose of this movement was to revive the Czech language, culture and national identity.Czech landslanguage

Czech country