Alboka

The Alboka is a Basque reed instrument with two sound tubes, which open into a common horn of horn. The two reeds are received by a capsule made ​​of horn and wind blown together. The left tube has five right three finger holes. The holes adjacent to each covered by a finger across. The uneven number of holes form two coherent effects ( fifths ). The Alboka is played in circular breathing and not overblown.

History and related instruments

The earliest evidence of the name comes from the Libro de Alboka Alexandre (13th century). It is derived from Arabic. al - Buq ( البوق ) " trumpet " or " horn " her. Go to Arab influence also the various Albogues with simple acoustic tube back that are up to the present widespread in other parts of the Iberian Peninsula and north of the Pyrenees.

The Alboka typologically closely related is also widespread in North Africa مقرونة maqrūna or magrūna, also called زمر zam ( a) r. She also has two sound tubes and one or two funnels, but an equal number of finger holes and no wind capsule (see Midschwiz ). A wind-cap of horn have the Gaita serrana and the Pibgorn ( UK, Wales). Had a stick and Horn called Scottish instrument from the 18th century, a wind-cap of wood, a wood body with a double bore and a horn flare.

In the Cantigas de Santa Maria ( around 1300 AD), a redundant instrument with wind-cap and horn flare is shown, the parts are mounted on an arcuate bracket. In a second instrument with probably a simple tube further details can not be seen. Archaeologically preserved instruments come from Lund ( Undated ) and Falster ( 2nd half of 11th century ), they are very similar to the Pibgorn.